“Please don't joke and bleed at the same time.”

“I dropped to my knees beside him, touching his cheek.It was felt cool and clammy under my hand. "This is...what I get...for coming early," he gasped out, trying to smile at me."Please don't joke and bleed at the same time," I said as I gently lifted his hands from his chest.”

“You could've just let me bleed to death and saved yourself a lot of hassel."Cal scowled at him. "I did it for her.”

“When Mrs. Casnoff saw us, she walked over to us. "Sophie," she said, her voice warmer than I'd ever heard it. "Happy birthday. It's good to see you."I actually believed he meant it, which was weird. Weirder still was the smile she gave me as she said, "I was just talking with several of the guests about your decision not to go through with the Removal. We're all so pleased."Great. Nothing better than my superpersonal decision being party chitchat."Well,that's probably a first for you," I tried to joke. When she just looked confused, I clarified. "Being pleased with me."And then she completely freaked me out by laughing. Granted, it was a low, short laugh, but still.”

“He probably would've raised an eyebrow in that annoying/hot way he had, and made a dirty joke about Elodie possessing me.”

“And then, from behind me: "I thought about you. Every day."I froze, my hand still holding the canvas flap.Cal's voice was slightly hoarse as he continued. "Three weeks is a long time to wonder where someone is. All that time, I thought maybe I'd done the wrong thing, telling you to find the Brannicks.I turned around then. I wanted to make a joke, or say something sarcastic, anything that would cut the tension enveloping us. Instead, I said, "I thought about you, too.”

“I just...I'm really freaked out."Her expression softened and she covered my fingers with her own. "I know. The joking in the face of death thing kind of gave it away.”