Page 25 of Threads That Bind Us

All I can do is smile and nod, but Charlie seems to understand. When he pulls his hand away, I notice the bandage peeking out of his sleeve again.

“Areyouokay?” I ask, gesturing to his arm as I try to finish my soup. It was the only thing I thought I could stomach when we ordered.

“Yeah, just a little scratch,” he replies, brushing it off. “Work, you know?”

I wait silently for him to continue, but he nods his head toward the bathroom. Logically, I understand why we shouldn’t talk about it here. But even the mention of his work has my heart rate picking up.

I shouldn’t be intrigued. Understanding? Sure. But interested, fascinated, maybe a little more? I try to shake the inclination, but as soon as he told me about The Syndicate, it felt like a part of my soul I had tucked away since last summer was suddenly illuminated, and I don’t know how to switch it back off. Don’t know if I want to, either.

“You’re going to have to tell me more about that one day.” I try to say it casually, but I think he hears it in my tone.

“Thinking about joining the family business once you become a Costa?” His tone is almost flirtatious, like he half expects me to say no, and half hopes I don’t. It has my pulse racing in a manner that is wildly inappropriate for the topic.

“Thinking about it.”

His eyes widen a bit, but he doesn’t have time to respond because Ana’s making her way back to the table. Her face is a little pale, and I’m immediately consumed with fear.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, putting the back of my hand against her forehead as she sits down. Her smile comes out as a grimace.

“I took the stupid antibiotics on an empty stomach this morning, like an idiot.” She leans away from her empty plate. “Do you have those ginger nausea pills?” I’m reaching into my bag before she even finishes the question.

“Yeah, of course. Did you get sick?” I ask, fishing through my bag for Ana’s meds.

“Ew, Ginny, no. If I got sick in a public restroom, I would have texted you.” She pops the ginger pills in her mouth and dry swallows, but I push my water at her.

“Drink, it’ll help.” She rolls her eyes at me but complies and then glances over at Charlie.

“Sorry, I’m kind of gross.”

I want to argue with her, tell her not to self-deprecate, but Charlie’s laugh cuts in.

“No problem, I got my appendix out at fourteen and acted like I had the plague for weeks. My sister nearly killed me, she was so annoyed. You’re not even scratching the surface of acceptable grossness.”

I toss him a thankful smile, rubbing small circles on the back of Ana’s neck like I used to do when she was little. It seems to help, but her face is still a bit pale, and Charlie takes it as his cue to distract her.

“Why’d you call her Ginny?”

Despite her furrowed brow, Ana cracks a smile.

“I couldn’t sayGwenwhen I was a baby. Something about theWsound that really tripped me up. So I called her Gin, and that turned into Ginny.” She turns toward me, her face relaxing a little. “I think I’m the only person who calls you that.”

I don’t know what parents feel like, but if it’s one tenth of the feeling I get when Ana says shit like this, I get why they think the sun shines out of their kids’ asses.

“Yeah, just you.” I squeeze her shoulder, breaking the contact with her when it seems the ginger has started to abate her nausea.

She picks up her juice and takes a tentative swallow.

“I like it. It fits you,” Charlie teases, winking at me.

I roll my eyes.

“Don’t get any ideas. That’s only for Ana.”

“I don’t know, maybe I’ll give him permission,” Ana quips, glancing at Charlie like they’re conspirators. “We’ll see how he does.”

Chapter 10

Charlie