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“Whatever, dude She toldyour ass”

Josh lets out a short laugh “Go ahead”

Panic rises in my chest as Peter moves toward Josh with purpose I pull Peter’s ar a few feet behind Josh, her hand to her mouth The piano , because Margot has heard everything

“It’s not true, is it? Please tell me it’s not true”

I open and close , because she already knows Margot who knows me so well

“How could you?” she asks, and her voice trembles The hurt in her eyes makes me want to die I’ve never seen that look in her eyes before

“Margot,” Josh begins, and she shakes her head and backs away

“Get out,” she says, her voice breaking Then she looks at me “You’re my sister You’re the person I trust more than anybody”

“Gogo, wait—” But she’s already gone I hear her feet run up the stairs I hear her door shut and not slam

And then I burst into tears

“I’m so sorry,” Josh says to me Bleakly, he says, “This is all my fault” He walks out the back door

Peter moves to put his arms around o?”

Hurt and surprise register on his face “Sure, I can go,” he says, and he walks out of the kitchen

I go to the bathroom off the side of the kitchen and sit on the toilet and cry So and call out, “Just a minute”

Mrs Shah’s cheery voice says, “Sorry, dear!” and I hear her heels clack away

Then I get up and splash cold water on my face My eyes are still red and puffy I run water over a hand towel and I wet my face with it My mom used to do this for me when I was sick She’d put an ice-cold washcloth over my forehead and she’d switch it out with a fresh one when it wasn’t cold anymore I wish my mom was here