A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

Over the past few days, everyone had noticed how Monty and the others who used to shamelessly cozy up to Calliope were suddenly bending over backward to be nice to Lisette instead. It felt like things had gone back to how they used to be. And honestly, when Calliope wasn't around, the group could get a little out of line.

Calliope walked into the cafeteria with a friendly smile, nodding at people as she passed.

Lisette and her group hadn't expected Calliope to be back already. They'd been in the middle of a cheerful lunch, chatting and laughing over burgers and fries.

Suddenly, they heard someone at a nearby table whisper and they whipped their heads around—just in time to see Calliope and Franco heading their way.

All four of them looked like they'd just seen a ghost.

Monty shot up from his seat, clearly caught off guard.

"Callie! When did you get back? You didn't tell us you were coming in today. We thought you were still out!"

He glanced at his lunch tray, looking guilty about sitting with Lisette, almost like he'd just been caught cheating on a test.

"Just started back today," Calliope replied, totally unfazed. "Figured I'd just show up. Either way, I was bound to run into everyone eventually, right?"

She brushed past them and went straight to the food line.

behind, shooting Monty and

a cold sweat. Horatio and Valerian's faces had gone pale, but Lisette just looked smug, as if she'd already won some secret

annoyed. After just three days away, the group had already

the Jewell family crowd. She could lose them for a moment, but getting them back was as easy

compete with

Callie's back, you guys should go eat with her. If you sit with me, she's going to be mad.

dropped her eyes,

torn. "But if we

“I don't want to

probably won't see it that

just too nice,"

sympathy, the group started migrating over

were coming. We would've picked you up at the airport!" one

how did everything go?

because, uh, well,

as soon as you showed