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“You talked to hied “How could you, Melody? You’re supposed to be on my side”

“We are on your side,” Aria says, laying a slim hand on my back “We love you, and ant you to be happy That’s e decided we had to talk to you tonight”

“Gang up on me is more like it” I still feel prickly all over Like a cactus with needles that poke in both directions—jabbing out and in at the same time

“Consider it a March family intervention Because Mom and Dad are on board with this, too, and ready to add their two cents if necessary,” Melody says, showing no sign of backing down “When Mason left the first ti and the feeling sorry for yourself for months and months on end, but this time it’s different”

I flinch, too shocked and hurt by my sister’s words to respond

“You were young before,” Melody continues “And it was your first broken heart, and Moive you time to learn how to heal But you’re twenty-five now You’re a grooman with a successful business, who’s already been down this road Even if Mason had done the sao—which he didn’t—there would be no excuse for the way you’ve been acting”

“I’ stiffly to my feet

Melody pops up fro to block my path to the driver’s side of the van “Mason never should have run aithout any explanation, but at least he’s done the work to ain Now it’s your turn, Lark”

“My turn to what?” I ask,

“To do the work To grow up and take responsibility for your feelings and realize no one is perfect Not even you”

“I never said I was perfect,” I say, more hurt byhurt in the entire tiether Even when Melody was four and colored in permanent marker all over my new chef costume “And who are you to decide what I need to do with my life? You’re twenty-two, Melody, and you’ve only dated one boy for more than six months You’re not—”

“I’, but I knohat it’s like to love so her arms at her chest “I loved Brian I didn’t want to break up with hi term, I did it”