"Well I..." Weakly, she trailed off, a faint flush creeping over her cheeks. She tamped the feeling down, gritting her teeth, thin fingers curling spider-like around her water glass. Beneath thick lashes her eyes flicked toward her sister, then back toward their guests, avoiding Charlie's pointed sneer. Her short-bitten nail traced over the menu, indicating the salad she had earlier found. "The prosciutto in this salad should be enough, I think. It can be kind of rich..." It was not an explanation her sister would buy, but she hoped Fiona would not feel inclined to call her out on it when surrounded by such new friends. The thought of attempting to stomach anything more flavorful than lettuce truly turned her stomach, but the show must go on. And she had felt far better since Fiona had moved her things downstairs; if luck was with her, she might pull this off after all.
She turned her attention instead to the couple with them, studying their body language, the way they interacted with one another with such familiarity. She had said nothing of her late-night conversation with Charlie, even to Fee; she wondered if anything had come of the slightly awkward, late-night conversation they had shared. And then she was able to smile, distracted from her problems, pulled out of the mire of her own mind by the goings-on in someone else's. Crunching at a piece of ice, Karin searched for something to say.
"Anyway," she said, praying this would end all open contemplation of her choice in meals. "Fee, it's a shame you missed our first meeting. These two had fireworks in the parking lot. Almost as good as Navy Pier." She gave a playful wink, laughing quietly. "And much more likely to burn your hands off. Sounds right up your alley, huh?"