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At least, I think

“Papa,” Calliope si at the head of the table to her left “Why would you ask such a thing?”

“Because it’s obvious there’s so on between you two,” Mateo retorts with a knowing look at his daughter

“You’ve been going over to Calliope’s in the evenings,” lare calls her out for the traitor she is She merely smiles sweetly back at me

“And you two haven’t stopped stealing glances at each other all evening,” Danielle rerin

“And you’ve been in an extraordinarily good mood the last few days,” my dad chimes in

Calliope ducks her head, hiding an amused smile

Ifor tihts I need to tread carefully here, so as not to get any parent’s hopes up that we’re back together in a normal relationship I don’t want to poke at Mateo’s ire either

Finally, I say neutrally, “We’ve rekindled our friendship Calliope has been a great support to me since I returned home”

I glance around the table Not one of our parents see that lame statement My dad actually snorts

“She’s been invaluable in explaining thein my heart of hearts that sounds even laood friend A childhood acquaintance Those ties rehout the years, and—”

“We’re friends with benefits now,” Calliope says, and my entire body flushes hot asacross the table and lunge at me His eyes rest heavy and hard upon me, and I flush hotter

“Calliope Colleen Rahter’s outburst

I turn lare She reaches out and pats her dad’s arirl—who is, in fact, a wo—knows exactly what she wants Oh, and Rafe was also telling the truthwe are indeed friends, and I’m here to support him in any way I can”