Chapter 58

"About the other night... sorry." Calliope paused, a little taken aback. Her mind instantly flashed to that moment-he'd suddenly pulled her close, his eyes locked on hers like he was about to devour her. She tugged the corners of her lips into a weak smile and said quickly, "It's okay, really. No big deal." Conrad pressed his lips into a line, clearly thinking hard about how to say the next part. Eventually, he mumbled awkwardly, "I was on duty at the base those days, sleeping at the dorm." So... he didn't blow her off on purpose that night? The stuff he said was just out of frustration? Weirdly, all that lingering frustration she hadn't been able to shake off just... vanished. Calliope's expression softened, her mood instantly brightening. "Got it, that makes sense. Next time you're staying at the dorms, just give me a heads-up, so I won't bother making dinner. No point in letting it go cold." Back in her study, Calliope settled in front of her laptop, still riding the high from earli