Ss was quiet for a moment. "But she''s gone now. Lance has to move on with


    his life. Honestly, I think he should find someone new."


    Calliope nced over at him.


    "Hudson would probably agree with you. But Lance wouldn''t."


    Ss turned to look at her, a curious expression on his face. "If-just hypothetically—if one day I wasn''t around anymore, what would you do?"


    "You think you''d find someone else?"


    Calliope frowned, a little annoyed. "That''s not going to happen. You''re healthy as a horse."


    "I mean, if something unexpected happened. If I left this world first. I''d want you to find someone who treats you even better."


    "You''re amazing, Ss. Plenty of people would want to be with you, you know?"


    He gave her a lopsided grin. "Just promise me, if it ever came to that, you''d let yourself be loved again. Live your life, Callie."


    Now she really frowned, not sure what he was getting at.


    Was he nning to leave her? And did he really have to use death as an example?


    "So, what, you want me to be with someone else?" she asked, brow furrowed.


    "I just want to know you''d be taken care of if I wasn''t here," Ss said, still smiling softly.


    Calliope said nothing, the silence between them suddenly feeling strange and heavy.


    Soon enough, they arrived home. Calliope was about to tell him she was tired and wanted to take a shower, when Ss''s phone rang. She nced over as he loosened his tie and answered.


    After just a few words, his face turned serious.


    "Okay, got it. I''ll be there right away."


    He hung up and turned to her. "Callie, go ahead and shower and get some rest. Something''se up. I have to leave town for a few days."


    Before she could even ask where, he was already grabbing his bag and packing.


    A few minutester, he came over, gave her a quick kiss, told her to look


    after herself and to take Damien along if she went out, then hurried. out the door.


    Calliope stood by the window, watching his car disappear down the street. Only


    then did she finally head for the shower and,ter, to bed.


    The next morning, Calliope made a stop at the hospital.


    Ulysses was there by himself, looking surprisingly upbeat, chatting with a couple of friends when Calliope walked in, everyon instinctively stood up.


    "Looks like you''ve got a visitor. We''ll give you two some space," one of them said, and they all slipped out.<fndaae> Original content can be found at Find~Novel</fndaae>


    Calliope set down a Tupperware container by his bed. "Had the housekeeper


    make you something good for recovery."


    "Callie, you really didn''t have toe," Ulysses said. "I''m fine."


    "You got stabbed for me," Calliope


    replied. "I came to check on you,nèt


    that''s all. Don''t do anything that


    stupid again I''m not going to thank you for it."


    "I got it," Ulysses nodded. Truthfully, he hadn''t even thought about it at the time—


    he just didn''t want her to get hurt.


    "How are you feeling now?" Calliope asked.


    "Honestly, I''m alright. Nothing to worry about, so don''t fuss," he said.


    "I''m not fussing. Don''t tter yourself," Calliope shot back, tired of the conversation.


    "Just eat your lunch. I''m heading out."


    "Will do," Ulysses replied, grinning.


    After leaving the hospital, Calliope headed to a little bistro for lunch.