A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

Chapter 69

When Calliope finally arrived, Archie and Portia were already there, waiting for her in their private booth. As soon as she walked in, smiles spread across all their faces.

"About time you showed up! What took you so long?" Portia teased, looking up. "Latecomers buy the first round!"

"Alright, alright!" Calliope chuckled, waving her hand in mock defeat. "Just had a few things to wrap up. I'll make it up with a drink.

True to her word, Calliope poured herself a glass of wine and toasted to her friends before taking a generous sip.

The three of them settled into their seats, catching up on each other's lives.

Archie was a bit quiet, but Portia eagerly shared about her latest romantic interest, a guy she'd been seeing but hadn't quite locked down yet.

Then Mavis recounted her recent daring mission. It was a nail-biter, the kind of story that made you clutch your heart a little tighter. Luckily, her top-skilled mentor had swooped in at the last moment to save the day.

going with

reciprocate those feelings in the same way. Their relationship was complicated, to put it mildly. Calliope remembered how, in another life, Mavis and Uriah had a massive falling out, almost tearing their mentor-mentee bond apart. Yet Calliope always believed that

are kind of unique. Uriah's never

of her drink, her eyes downcast, and it was clear she was

set your sights on someone else. Uriah's as approachable as a porcupine, I

it were

from countless tight spots, and she couldn't just walk

you can force," Archie said, pouring Mavis another drink. "If

trying to win him over seemed daunting. She

change the subject to something happier," Mavis turned to Calliope. "Callie, how are things with

"You seem to be

looked up with

took things to the next level..." Calliope confessed, her cheeks turning a shade of pink. "He was amazing, and I'm pretty