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!"

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

all the stuff you hate, just to make you

his voice raw and angry. He glared at Hudson, refusing to accept

I went out drinking, right? Well, watch this, I'm heading out to the bar, and I'm meeting up with those jerks you can't stand. I won't even come

spun around and

but not quite this much. He just

glanced over

looked weirdly calm. He managed a small smile at Calliope. "Don't worry about him. He just needs some time

you? I'm worried

one hurting the most. It wasn't

die" all he wanted, but it didn't

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

on you. And, listen, if you feel like you need to get back home, don't worry about me. I know

looked at Calliope with genuine gratitude. He felt bad for taking up

softening. "I'm sorry. Guess

but deep down, she knew there wasn't much hope left