Page 31 of Threads That Bind Us

Please. I haven’t seen you in ages.

She sends a gif of that old lady from the Titanic, and I roll my eyes.

Kenz

Is Ana home? I can bring bagels from the bakery by my place.

Me

Yeah she’s home, but don’t worry about it, she’s sleeping.

I’ll grab them anyway, she can eat when she wakes up if she wants. I’ll grab coffee for us too. I’m only half awake.

I stare at the screen, my brows pinched together. Kenzie is the best kind of friend—she used to pick up Ana from school when I couldn’t change my schedule. She gives excellent pep talks, and she’s the sweetest person alive. But she doesn’t offer to buy things, especially over the past six months. The hospital bills from her assault have been taking over her entire life, so much that she had to leave her apartment in the Navy Yard and find a room for rent in Columbia Heights. I don’t want her to stretch her budget for breakfast, but I also don’t want to seem ungrateful. Instead, I just send a little heart emoji and trustshe’s got it covered. I can always stick a twenty in her bag when she’s not looking.

A half hour later,Kenzie’s letting herself in with her spare key, balancing two massive iced coffees on top of three boxes of baked goods. I rush to grab the drinks from her before they tip over, and she pecks me on the cheek.

“Sorry,” she whispers, glancing at Ana’s tightly shut bedroom door. “Couldn’t reach my phone to text you for help.”

She slides the boxes on the counter and opens the top one, peeking inside and then moving it to the fridge.

“I saw these little fruit tarts that looked so good, and I know how much Ana loves raspberries, so I just had to get them.” She’s bouncing on her toes as she opens the lid so I can see inside. They’re adorable, tiny and glazed, and she’s right—Ana will love them.

“There are bagels and cream cheese in the bottom one. I assumed you had butter for Ana.” She yanks her hair out of its ponytail and flips her head over, putting it back up again. “And I got some random pastries too, just in case she’s craving something else.”

Kenzie has always been the most energetic person I know. She talks a mile a minute, keeping everyone around her laughing and entertained. I love how she fills a room, how you never feel alone when she’s near. Her joy is infectious, and one of the worst parts of seeing her with Bryan was watching that light fade whenever he was around. It never fades anymore.

“Jesus, did you walk all the way from Columbia Heights with this?” I ask, snagging the cream cheese out of the bottombox and sticking it in the fridge. Kenzie peels her scarf and coat off, hanging them on the hooks by the door.

“Oh, fuck no, I took a rideshare,” she laughs, opening the last box of pastries and digging out a chocolate croissant.

A rideshare? Kenzie? There have been times where she’s walked home from the club because she didn’t want to spend the two dollars on the Metro fare. What is happening?

“You really didn’t have to do all this, Kenz. I appreciate it, but you didn’t have to go out of your way.” We both know what I actually mean isyou didn’t need to spend the money. There’s a flush on her cheeks as she smiles through a mouthful of pastry.

“Actually, I kind of have some news. I know there’s a lot of other stuff to talk about, and I didn’t want to drop it on you right when I walked in. But, well…” she trails off, swallowing hard and looking a little embarrassed.

I wish I could tell her that, no matter what she’s about to say, it’s not as unbelievable finding someone in a bar to pay your sister’s medical bills in exchange for your hand in marriage.

“Everything okay?” I ask, grabbing her hand as she leans back.

“Yeah, actually, everything’s better than okay. Apparently, there’s this charity fund at George Washington, and when I was there, I signed up as a potential donation recipient. I don’t really remember doing that, but there were a ton of forms, so I must have. Anyway, apparently one of theseguardian angelrich people paid off all of my medical debt.” She takes a deep breath, and there are tears welling in her eyes as she beams at me. “It’s gone. Like, all of it. They paid it all off.”

Before I can even react, she launches herself at me, wrapping her arms around me and crying into my shoulder. I choke out a laugh, burying my face in her hair and holding her close to me.

“Holy shit,” I gasp, shaking my head. She nods against me, tears of relief seeping through the sleeve of my shirt.

“Do you know who donated?” I ask, pulling back and wiping the tears from under her eyes. I know her answer before she even opens her mouth.

“No, they said it was anonymous. Something about medical privacy or whatever.”

I’m not naïve enough to think it’s a coincidence. And even though I was livid at Charlie barely an hour ago over finances, I can’t find it in me to be upset. Kenzie deserves to be free of every memory of her heinous ex, especially the financial burden he caused.

Kenzie grabs our coffees and snuggles into the couch cushions as I pick up my phone.

Me

And Kenzie’s medical bills?