A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

If that's really how things are, then maybe it's time for Mavis to finally let go.

Either way, once this holiday is over, she and Uriah need to have made some kind of progress.

Calliope had already talked it over with Norton, too.

After some discussion, they decided to go with Norton's plan: he'd pretend to pursue Mavis, just to see if Uriah would react at all. Maybe with Mavis spending more time around Norton, they could finally figure out what Uriah really felt.

When it came time for the group trip, they'd have Silas invite Uriah along, make sure he was included. Then they'd see how he acted.

"Yeah," Mavis said, her voice carrying that unmistakable hint of disappointment.

She'd probably been hoping Uriah would show some sign of jealousy, maybe even refuse to go along with the plan. Not because he liked her, necessarily, but at least because he didn't like her being with someone else.

But Uriah didn't react at all. Which pretty much proved he didn't care who she was with.

Maybe, even if they used Norton to try and make him jealous, Uriah would just stay indifferent, and in the end, she'd only embarrass herself.

it, Mavis lowered her eyes. She let

Uriah walked in, smelling of cigarette smoke. He

he might head her way, but in the end, he hesitated and turned in

something. But nope, he just walked away, barely

disappointment stung. He really didn't care. Maybe she could pick

dragged on, and as midnight struck, the neighborhood exploded with the sounds

Roman candles and sparklers, everyone cheering and hugging as the

down, folks started

Archie stayed behind at Calliope's

Mavis and kept her company until

into the hallway and found Archie

up?" Calliope asked, dropping

said, his brow furrowed. "And I

just don't want him to cause trouble for you,