“Jack? You okay?”
I managed a mumbled. “Of course.”
“You sure? You’re more ghostly than normal.”
“It’s probably just the rebound.” My voice sounded faint. Ifeltfaint.
“Yeah. I can see what you mean by that. Your lips were fully present and now they have faded to be even more transparent than the rest of you. Again, are you okay?”
I nodded. “Just give me a few minutes.”
This rebound was worse than with my finger. Granted, I had never tried to push so much of me corporeal before.
Chiara said nothing for a while. I allowed my thoughts to float, giving my body time to recover. When I opened my eyes again, the shadows in the room had shifted.
I shook my head. “What time is it?”
“Mid-afternoon. You’ve been out of it for a while.”
Interesting. I had lost any sense of time passing.
“How are you feeling?”
I paused. “Is thatworryin your voice?”
Her responding look could have peeled paint. “Ofcourseit’s worry. You’ve been out of it for hours. I was terrified I had broken you somehow.”
“I thought you didn’t mind hurting me.”
Chiara crumpled. “Jack, you know I say things I don’t mean. My filters are the worst. Are you feeling okay?”
Mentally, I assessed my energy levels.
“I feel normal. No long-lasting damage.”
“Are you sure?” Chiara was nibbling her bottom lip. “Because I have another idea I want to try.”
She held up a sewing needle.
“You’re threatening me with a Chiara-sized dagger?”
Her eyes flared instantly to murderous. “Don’t make me regret apologizing and feeling bad about stabbing you with this.”
“Stabbing me?”
“Yeah, baby.”
“Well, I suppose thatiswhat one does with a dagger.”
“Ha-ha. Everyone’s a comedian. You’re hilarious.”
“Thank you. So why the needle?”
“The food was just resting in your mouth. Maybe whatever grounds you to this world needs to be actuallyinyour body.”
I raised my eyebrow at the needle.
She mimed stabbing me with it.
