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"You got into ht you came back!"

"It was unlocked, and I opened it because you hadn’t answered and your car was there"

I sighed heavily and handed her keys back as I began pacing

"Jagger, I swear it’s not me"

"Then tell ether No one else has, or had, a key tothis shit to herself This is like torture for her" When I turned to look at her, tears were strea down her face

"I don’t know, but I wouldn’t do this to Grey, I love her"

I gritted h my mind, but it came out anyway "I love you, Charlie, but you’re the only person who ht now If you actually loved Grey, you would be happy for us, you would be happy for her I don’t understand you," I snapped, and she flinched back "I don’t understand you, and asme, that is why I think it’s you! Because if you loved her, you wouldn’t beto be happy for the first time since Ben di--"

"I loved Ben too!" she yelled before covering her mouth, her eyes wide as she backed up to her wall And I knewI knew in the way she said it and in the horrified look on her face that her words went much deeper than the love she had for Grey She’d loved Ben the way I loved Grey

"What?" I finally asked, the word barely audible

A sob tore from her throat, and she shakily slid down the wall until she was sitting on the floor "I loved hi an ache in my own chest "I was selfish, I wanted Grey to be with you because I wanted Ben But that’s not the only reason I wanted you together--I swear!" she said quickly, her eyes wide as she tried to convey the truth in her words "You and Grey belonged together Anyone could’ve seen that"

When she didn’t sayover, I rested my elbows on my knees and put my head inback up atbrother I couldn’t tell you! And he ith Grey, as I supposed to do? What was I supposed to say?"

A heavy silence filled her bedroom as we sat there, and I tried to process that my little sister had been in love withcare of Grey after his death, Charlie had dealt with it on her own "Charlie," I groaned "God, Charlie, I’m sorry If you had told ed and sent me a shaky smile before it was disturbed by another sob "It was hard enough for you, and for herI knew you had to be there for her And you were in Pullman most of the time anyway"

"I’m so sorry I’ve always taken care of you, I still should’ve been there," I whispered After another few hter "I don’t understand You have to kno hard this has been on Grey I’ve told you how led over the last two years, and now suddenly you’re so ether? I don’t--I just don’t understand how you could change the way you felt about Grey and hed sadly and looked down at her hands, which she was nervously twisting "The way you were talking about her when you were still in college, you toldWhen I saw her at the graduation, she looked horrible But when you both cauys looked closer than I’d ever seen you, and I didn’t knohen that had happened I didn’t knohen she’d started getting better And I"

"You what?" I asked when she didn’t continue

For a while she didn’t respond When she finally looked up atdown her face "I’ve never even had a boyfriend because of Ben I always only wanted him When he died--I feltGod, I felt like a part of oing on with my life, just like you and Grey arejust like everyone is But that first day I hung out with her after you both moved back, I could see the way Grey looked e talked about you I knew she was falling in love with you even if she hadn’t realized it yet, and I hated her for it Because even though that’s what I’ve alanted for you, and what I’ve alanted for her, I hated that she couldhis left me in one hard rush "Charlie," I whispered "I’m--I’m sorry I don’t knohat else to say" I shook my head and looked at her helplessly "I’rief alone, but don’t take your hurt out on Grey After everything she went through, she doesn’t deserve it"

Charlie let out a sad laugh and nodded, then we just sat there in silence for a while

Charlie loved Ben and was upset that Grey couldto drive Grey insane wanted to keep Grey andher of what she was supposed to have with Ben Whilethe only person who made sense was Charlie, I knew it couldn’t be her It would’ve been too hard for Charlie to go through everything this person had been