A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

"Uh, n-no, it's nothing!" Ryan stammered, quickly shaking his head. He tried to smile at Calliope, but it was the kind of forced, crooked grin that pretty much screamed something's up.

Calliope saw right through him. She knew Ryan too well-when he got anxious, his eyes darted everywhere, and right now, he was practically begging Neil for

help with his gaze.

Neil had already set down his fork and gotten up from the table. "Callie, really, it's nothing. I'll go talk to him. You guys finish your dinner, okay?"

He started to lead Ryan away.

But Calliope stood up right away, her chair scraping against the hardwood.

Silas followed suit, towering over the table.

just tell me straight," Calliope insisted, her tone leaving no room for argument. "What's going on that you can't tell me? Weren't we best friends

bit the guy you wouldn't want to mess with. "Yeah, seriously, Ryan. If you've got a

whose look said,

been since our town started doing better? They keep saying we 'stole

over. We tried to talk it out, but they went straight to throwing punches. I was with Jacob and a few

Kyle from Ivory Town? The guy who used to be in the army? He basically flattened Jacob and then they wouldn't even let us take him to the clinic. To top it off, now they're saying we have to give them

with anger. "It's ridiculous! When we first started turning our town into a tourist spot, we asked them to partner with us. They said no. Now that we're finally doing well, suddenly

over me, I'm scared he's really hurt. The others are still facing off with them, and it could

crossing the line. We need to go check it out," Neil said, already heading

of roast chicken

than patient,"