Threads That Bind Us (Syndicate of Fate Book 1) by Rae Douglas

Author:Rae Douglas [Douglas, Rae]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-06-24T00:00:00+00:00

Two days later, I have no choice. Ana made it through her entire school day both days, and even insisted on going out afterwards. She passed out right after dinner, but she held up her end of the bargain, so I have to hold up mine.

Charlie’s up before I am, as always, and drives himself to work—which work he’s going to, I never know. Zane’s waiting for us by the car when Ana and I are ready to head into the city. Ana gives him a bright, excited smile, which seems to take him a bit by surprise. But Ana’s sunshine cannot be dimmed today, and some of my fears are abated by how happy she is, for the first time in a long time.

On the forty-minute drive, Ana tells me about everything Gray’s informed her has changed since she’s been away. Melissa Bulwarke, the girl who sits behind her in history, shaved her head in solidarity with Ana’s diagnosis, not knowing that Ana wouldn’t need chemo. Mrs. Layman, the chemistry teacher, had to explain multiple times how radiation therapy wouldn’t make Ana radioactive. Gray’s taken to calling her the most popular freak in school, a title apparently previously held by the kid who’s double jointed in his elbows.

When we pull up to the school drop-off zone, I want to ask her a million times over again if she’s sure, if she doesn’t want to rest for a few more days. But I don’t want to stifle her joy. I’m hiding so much from her, and even if she has no idea, I need to show her I trust her completely with something.

“You call me if you need anything, okay?” I ask, because I can’t help it.

She kisses me on the cheek as Zane opens her door.

“Thanks, Ginny,” she says, and she bolts out of the car.

The ride back is so much longer than the one there. By the time I get to the house, I want to collapse. I’m physically and emotionally exhausted.

I planned to run errands, distract myself for the rest of the day until l could get into the pickup line obnoxiously early, but nothing felt right. So I told Zane to drop me off, hoping maybe I could lie on the couch with my phone on my chest, waiting to sprint out the door if the school office called me.

I didn’t expect Charlie to be home. I assumed he’d be out for the whole day, like he’s been every other day since we moved in, but I can hear the shower running in our room.

I was going to change before making myself another coffee and hunkering down in the living room, but I hesitate. The few times he’s showered while I’ve been in the bedroom, I’ve had to recite the Gettysburg Address by memory to avoid imagining him dripping wet.

I need to get a fucking grip. I can’t act like this forever.

Exposure therapy, right?

When I peek inside, I can see the bathroom door is cracked. Steam

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