A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

"Lance, hey, calm down. I swear, I haven't lied to you." Hudson's voice was

gentle. "This isn't what I wanted either, but...it's just how things are. Maybe I was always living on borrowed time."

"I mean, honestly, I've had a good run. Meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me. Getting to really know you? Even better."

"Lance, you've got to promise me something, okay? Even if I'm gone, you have to take care of yourself. And besides, I'm not dead yet, am I?"

He tried to grin, even though it didn't look easy. "I'm right here in front of you. If there's anything you want me to do, just say it. I'll do it—whatever it is, I promise."

Hudson gave Lance a crooked smile.

"And hey, when I'm gone, will you bring me some flowers every week? You know flowers are my favorites. It'd mean a lot if you could leave some flowers for me every Sunday."

"But if you meet someone new, someone you really love, then you don't have to bring flowers anymore, alright?"

Lance clamped his hands over his ears, shaking his head, refusing to listen.

"Shut up! I don't want to hear it! If you die, I'm not bringing you any flowers. Not a single one!"

go out and find someone else right away. The kind of guy you absolutely can't stand. I'll date him

I'll do all the stuff you hate, just

He glared at Hudson, refusing to

and I'm meeting up with those jerks you can't

spun around

from Lance, but not quite this much. He just couldn't process it yet. He hadn't even stopped to think about how Hudson

over at

calm. He managed a small smile at Calliope. "Don't worry

I'm worried about

Hudson was the one hurting the most. It wasn't like he'd chosen

say "don't die" all he wanted, but it didn't change

smiling a little. "But I knew he'd react like this. Still, you were right. It's better

you need to get back home, don't worry about me. I know you're busy,

at Calliope with genuine gratitude. He felt bad for

sorry. Guess my medical skills

she