I Hate Group Projects

Casey's sigh was somehow even heavier this time. "I don't think someone like me can make you happy. You deserve better, you really do, but I can't lose you either so I don't know what I'm shupposed to do."

"You DO make me happy," Vera said fiercely. "I can't lose you either, you know. Since neither of us can lose the other, we'd find a way to make things work. I know we would."

He didn't say anything for a while but when he did, it was with great resignation. "…we should still wait until you're eighteen. I don't want Tilly to be upset."

What else had she said to him? Was Casey aware of the fact that she was testing him? How exactly had that conversation gone down? If Tilly was aware of Casey's feelings for her even before Vera was, that would put what she said about leaving Vera in good hands more into context. 

She wasn't testing him as a potential business partner. She was testing him as a potential life partner.