Now even if he was gone, he could still run thepany just fine-and look after himself, too.


    He''d been a little worried before, but seeing it with his own eyes, he waspletely at ease.


    He just knew it—he was smart enough, capable enough. As long as he set his mind to something, he could do almost anything, sometimes even better than he could himself.


    After about twenty minutes of getting things wrapped up, Lance led everyone out for dinner.


    They settled into a cozy booth at a steakhouse.


    Over dinner, Calliope couldn''t stop thinking about Hudson''s situation. She barely touched her food, lost in thought.


    Ss sat next to her, nudging her every now and then with a forkful of mashed potatoes or a piece of steak.


    "Callie, you''ve got yourself a pretty good husband here,” Lance teased, grinning. "Went and got married without saying a word, but hey, he seems like a solid guy."


    Calliope looked up and smirked. "Well, I''ve got good taste, don''t I?" "I''d say I do, too! Mine''s a keeper," Lance shot a look over at Hudson. Hudson''s hand trembled a bit as he passed the bread basket to Lance. "Why are you so worked up? Everyone already knows," Lanceughed. Hudson quickly regained hisposure. "Eat up. How was your first day at the office? Think you''ll get the hang of it?"


    "It was alright,” Lance replied. "You''ve got the ce running smoother than a Swiss watch. I barely found anything to do."


    “You handled that meeting like a pro,” Hudson said. “If I ever hand thepany over to anyone, I''d feel good about leaving it in your hands."


    Lance puffed his cheeks, narrowing his eyes at Hudson. "Why are you talking like that? nning to ditch me or something?"


    "Lance, can we talk after dinner?" Hudson set his fork down, his face suddenly serious.


    Lance tensed, a flicker of panic in his eyes. "What''s going on? What do you want to talk about?"


    He''d changed a lottely, and Lance couldn''t help but worry-was Hudson nning to leave him behind?


    "Let''s eat first. We''ll talk after you''ve had something."


    "I can''t eat if you''re gonna be all mysterious," Lance grumbled.


    "Just eat. I''ll eat too." Hudson ruffled Lance''s hair, trying to lighten the mood.


    Lance shot him a suspicious look, but as soon as Hudson coaxed him, he forgot all about it.


    After dinner, Calliope and Ss left first, leaving Lance and Hudson to talk. Calliope had a pretty good idea-Hudson was finally going to tell Lance the truth.


    "Don''t worry," Ss said gently as they sat in the car.


    He could tell Calliope was anxious for Hudson and Lance, but this wasn''t something she could fix. Matters of the heart-life and death-those were things people had to figure out for themselves.


    Calliope leaned into Ss''s arms.


    "Babe, if I was dying... what would you do?" She looked up at him, her eyes searching his face.


    "I''d lose my mind," Ss said, frowning. "Even if you died, I''d stay by your side. Or I''d bring you


    ye


    bao matter what it took I''d do


    to have you with me again.”


    He seemed to sink into some deep memory, his gaze growing darker and more intense.


    Calliope watched him, remembering the time she''d actually died, once.


    If only Hudson could have a second chance too.


    But... if he came back, would he still get sick? If fate really meant for him to suffer, maybe a second chance wouldn''t change anything after all.


    She sighed.


    "Don''t overthink it. Everyone''s got


    their own fate," Ss


    gently brushing her hair back. "Hey, I''ve got a g tonight. Come with me?"


    BUMS