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“That’s stupid,” Charlie said flatly “That all happened before I was even born”

“And after you were born, too,” Cecilia corrected

“Still,” Charlie said, waving her hand in dis-ever They need to get over it”

“That’s what I’ Charlie a set to the bottom of shit and tell it like it is

“I think if you give enough reason for a person to dislike you, or distrust you, or whatever,” Cecilia said gently to Charlie, “it’s really hard to co it’s been”

“Bullshit,” Charlie said firmly She shook her head “We’re family”

Cecilia sh,” she said “But remember what I said It’s hard to come back from that—so don’t be an asshole”

“Too late,” Charlie replied, rolling her eyes again “I can’t help it—it’s in o find Molly—we’re all staying at her house tonight so the ’rents can be at the hospital with Leo I bet she’d take Olive, too, if you asked”

“Thanks, toots,” Cecilia replied “I think I’ll keep her with ”

As soon as Charlie left the roo Olive back on the floor so she could fix her shirt

“Fuck, my back hurts,” she complained

“I bet it does,” I said unsympathetically “What the fuck were you thinkin’?”

“Can we not do this now?” she pleaded “You can yell atas you want later I promise I’ll just sit there and let you tear o to the hospital”

“You need to lay down and rest,” I argued

“I need to be at the hospital,” she said, getting to her feet She took a step toward me and wrapped her arms around my shoulders “I need to be there for my sister”

“You sure?” I asked, running hs

“I know she o, then I’ the decision not to support her You know?”

“Yeah, I get it,” I said with a sigh, wishing I didn’t She needed Lily to know that she was there—even if it went over like a lead balloon

We stayed like that for a s It had been a hell of a day, and she was right It wasn’t over yet

“You sure you don’t want to rest for a little while?” I asked, gripping her hips “They’re gonna be up there all night”