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“Well.” Charlie flashed a complicit wink this time. “She did make it sound like it was a great annoyance and irritation to her, but that’s just for show. Do you know, in all these years, she has never invited anyone home? Or even spoken fondly to me about another woman?”

“Sadly, we’re done now,” Olivia muttered in rising sadness. “And I’m sorry, Charlie, but this feels weird, talking about Grace when she’s not here.”

“I’m talking to you, darling.”

“But it’s over, okay? God. I don’t want to cry again.” Olivia stood up to pace. “I just need to get over it. And I will. I knew what I was in for. To her credit, she never made any promises, never said we would have more… Now we’re done. Finished.”

“Don’t accept it, Olivia.”

Olivia chuckled at that. Bitterly. “You know, not accepting things, holding on to relationships, has got me in huge trouble in the past. Charlie, I won’t be doing that again. Learned my lesson, thank you very much.”

“Are you in love with her?” Charlie inquired softly.

“No,” Olivia snapped as a tear rolled down her cheek.

“Olivia—”

“No,” she repeated, knowing it was a lie. “I’m just… No.”Not in love, don’t want to be in love. No way!

“You are.” Charlie nodded. “Oh, baby!”

“Don’t say that to me. Don’t baby me. Why do you look so happy, anyway?” Olivia struggled not to sound impatient. “Do I really need to say it again, Charlie? Grace told me we can’t go on. She doesn’t want to be in a relationship with me. Or anyone.Ever.I don’t know why I got it into my head that there was still some hope, but—”

“Because you understand her on a deeper level, of course,” Charlie interrupted with another convincing nod. “You can hear the things she’s not saying.”

“I’m getting a headache.” Olivia raked her fingers through her hair in more irritation. She sat down again, exhaled, and shook her head. “She was kind. Gentle, but very clear. And it has been more than two weeks without any contact. She’s moved on.”

“Don’t let her.”

“What?”

“Don’t accept it. It takes two to break up, right? She can’t do it without you.”

“Charlie, you’re talking crazy.”

“Make her commit, Olivia. It’s time.”

“But she doesn’t want to! And she’s already in the wind!”

“No, she’s not. Go get her. Remind her of how you feel. Have you even told her? Uh?”

“There’s no point.”

“So you’re just going to take it lying down?” Charlie rubbed a gentle hand over her shoulders. “That’s not like you, kid. Look, Olivia. Grace is scared. You see that, don’t you?”

“I’m not going to beg.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“But it would be. You know, Dana is right. I need to learn to accept that sometimes things won’t go the way I want them to. And that I am strong enough to face the truth on my own.”

“Done.”

“Huh?”

“Well, yes. You’ve learned it. Demonstrating that to me right now. Lesson learned. You’re in control.”

Well, she did have a point. Olivia relaxed a fraction as this dawned on her, then revved up again.