Big Bo, thank you for always being there for me and for letting me move in with you. I promise to rearrange your shelves, nag you about laundry, bore you with stories of the guys I go out with (yes, I WILL be dating, so get used to it!), and basically annoy the heck out of you. We’re going to argue, so you might as well accept that I’m going to win every time and give up now, and don’t you dare leave the toilet seat up or I’ll put itching powder in your sheets. She’d drawn a smiley face. Seriously, I have no idea what I’d do without you.

I love your ugly face, Carrie.

Madigan met his gaze. “She sounds funny and sweet, and she obviously adored you.”

“She is and she did. She gave me this one when she moved in with Kevin.” He withdrew another Mad Truth card and handed it to her. On the front was, I SMILE MOST OF THE TIME BECAUSE YOU’RE MY BROTHER. Inside, on the left was, SOMETIMES I PUNCH THINGS FOR THE SAME REASON, and on the right, BUT I LAUGH EVERY SINGLE DAY BECAUSE YOU’RE STUCK WITH ME.

“I came up with this card for Blaine,” Madigan said solemnly without looking up, and then she read his sister’s note.

Big Bo, you really are stuck with me forever, so don’t think just because I’m moving in with Kevin, you’re going to get a reprieve from me bugging the heck out of you or driving you crazy with my babbling. That’s NEVER going to change. You’ll always be my rock, my sounding board, and my favorite person. But you should be used to that by now.

Love, your amazing sister, Carrie

Madigan looked at him. “This makes me so sad.”

He nodded. “That’s what I’m saying. She trusted me with everything. Why wouldn’t she trust me with the most important thing—what Kevin was doing to her?”

“Maybe because of the same reason I still haven’t told anyone but you the truth about Alejandro being married. Because she was ashamed. It’s hard to face the people who have spent their lives protecting you when you fail to protect yourself.”

“But I’d never hold that against her. She was a fucking victim, and I had no clue. The guy was my best friend, and I didn’t even see what was right in front of my face. That kills me.”

“You did see it, but she covered it up. You can’t fault yourself for trusting her, but I wish you could tell her how you feel. Maybe then things could get better. I can’t tell you how much I hate that you’re hurting and that you two aren’t talking.”

“You don’t have to tell me, because I’m in the same position with you and Blaine.”