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“Let me make sure I have this right.” Keisha puts a hand on my arm to stop me from opening my car door.

“The man you claimed to hate brought you soup, which led to you being his inside man, which somehow turned into him volunteering at The Barkery, going out, and now he’s your secret boyfriend because he’s still the parent of one of your students? Do I have that right?”

Soooooo…

I might have left out a few key details when I asked her to help me with my Petunia Lemon sabotage. And by a few details, I mean everything about Luke.

Oops.

“Yeah.” I nod my head. “That about covers it.”

“Well fuck me.” She leans back and takes a deep breath. If either of us smoked, I’d offer her a cigarette. “I really can’t leave you alone, can I?”

“I told you, I make impulsive decisions without you.” When she’s gone, I don’t have anyone to run my ideas by, and this is what happens. “Next time, could you please think about me before you have an art exhibit and a family emergency back-to-back?”

“I’ll be sure to tell my grandma she needs to run her heart problems by you in the future.”

“Thank you.” I pull my keys out of the ignition. “That’s all I ask.”

“But really, thank you for sending those cookies to my mom’s house,” she says. “I didn’t even know you had her address.”

I didn’t have her address. I spent an entire afternoon putting all my internet sleuthing to work to figure it out, but she doesn’t need to know that.

“When you’re stressed, I’m stressed.” What can I say? I’m a very codependent person. “And when I’m stressed, I need cookies. So I thought it might help you as well.”

“You didn’t need to do it.” Her voice thickens with a show of emotion that is so unlike Keisha, I almost panic. “But I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you did. It meant a lot to me.”

“Of course I didn’t need to do it, but you know gift giving is my love language.

” I wave her thanks off. I’m not prepared to feel feelings right now, not when I’m prepped and ready for battle.

“Plus, what I really wanted to send you was wine. But you were stuck in a dry town and cookies were the best I could do.”

“Well…” She shakes her head and clears her throat. Looks like I’m not the only person who hides my emotions anymore! “Will there at least be wine at this thing tonight?”

“Duh.” I ask a few questions before going to Petunia Lemon events now, like where it is, will there be medical procedures, things like that. But alcohol is a given. “I think they put more thought into the alcohol selection than into the products we’re supposed to be talking about.”

Just one of the thousands of red flags I’ve found since I realized Petunia Lemon is not what it seems to be.

“Oh good!” She unclasps her seatbelt and pushes open her door. “That makes things easier for me then.”

I climb out and lock my car. I doubt anyone would be interested in my car, but it’s been through too much lately to tempt fate. Car theft would absolutely push me over the edge. I drop my keys, attached to the new, special key chain Luke gave me, into my purse and meet Keisha on the sidewalk.

“Do you need me to go over the plan again?”

Since Keisha was at my failed Petunia Lemon party when I decided to quit, she was shocked to find out I was still a sister in skincare when she got back to town.

And because she knows me better than almost anyone on the planet, she didn’t buy my BS story about still loving the products and wanting to honor my commitment to the brand.

I lasted maybe thirty minutes before I confessed my entire plan to her, and she eagerly volunteered to help bring them down.

“I think I got it,” she says. “We’re just going to pretend like you’ve finally convinced me to join, right?”

“Mainly, yes. I just need you to seem excited about the opportunities and the products. If you get the chance, maybe ask point blank if the only thing they use for their skin is Petunia Lemon products.” Since I already have them on camera admitting to Botox, this will cement the lies even further.

“I’m going to talk to Nora about the refund policy and see if I can catch them lying about that too. ”

“I know you still have hope that Nora isn’t covering up for them,” she says, the look on her face making it clear she doesn’t share my faith. “But no matter what happens, I have your back.”

“I appreciate that.” I squeeze her hand, so grateful that if I can’t have a sister in skincare, I’ll always have a sister in life. “Also, if I didn’t tell you already, I’m obsessed with your hair tonight.”

“Thank you!” She touches the Bantu knots all over her head. “Last time I tagged along, two women touched my hair and a third attempted. This is my protective style for my protective style.”

“Brilliant.” And infuriating that people still think it’s okay to touch another person without permission. “I hope it works.”

“They should be the ones hoping,” she says. “I was only nice last time for you. I’m not playing by the same set of rules tonight and I will hurt someone’s feelings.”

“It’d be well deserved.” We turn in at the walkway up to Jacqueline’s house. “Just make sure you record it if you do.”

Each step we take to the front door feels like someone is winding my muscles up tighter and tighter.

Tension runs down my spine and I’m afraid one small word will snap me like a rubber band.

The worst part is I’m not sure if I feel so anxious because of the information I’m trying to get on Petunia Lemon or because I’m going to spend the evening laughing and smiling in Jacqueline’s face, only to leave and call her ex-husband.

“Oh no.” Keisha grabs my hands and turns me to face her. “I don’t know if you’re spiraling over Petunia Lemon, Jacqueline, or both, but you need to snap out of it.”

“I can’t help it!” I whisper-shout, my nerves getting the best of me. “This is my first time around her since…you know, things happened with Luke. I’m freaking out a little bit.”

“Well stop it,” she demands, like her words will make it happen.

“You’re always so worried about everyone else’s happiness and you can’t do that tonight.

This company is horrible, and not to be a bitch, but so is Jacqueline.

You met Luke before you knew her, and there’s nothing for you to feel bad about.

So let’s go drink some free wine, dig up some dirt, and get the fuck out of there so you never have to see her again…

except for teacher conferences and school events until the end of May. ”

At least she started out strong? I have no idea how this got so messy, but she’s right about one thing—the faster we do this, the faster we can leave.

“You’re right.” I take a deep breath and square my shoulders.

I reach into my purse and turn on the key chain that happens to be a recorder.

I was going to wait until later to start recording but I’m worried if I don’t do it now, I’ll forget when it’s time.

Luke reassured me there’s enough storage to last all night and he better be right, because if I have to be an inside man after tonight, I’m convinced it’ll give me an ulcer. “Let’s get this over with.”

We march up to the door and I don’t even get a chance to ring the bell before it’s thrown open.

“Emerson!” Jacqueline pulls me in for a hug, and my hackles immediately shoot into place. “I’m so glad you made it!”

Considering the last time I saw her she was pointing out all of the problem areas on my face, a warm reception from her was the last thing I expected.

“Umm…hi.” I hug her back even though this feels like a trap. “Thanks for inviting me.”

“Oh please, you know I love to see you. Sisters in skincare, remember?” She pulls away from me and turns her attention to Keisha. “And you must be the new consultant I heard all about? I’m Jacqueline, it’s so nice to meet you!”

There it is!

It all makes sense now. She’s putting on a show to add another person to this crazy-ass company. It’s just too bad she not only already met Keisha, but has had multiple conversations with her.

She holds out her arm to shake Keisha’s hand and the secondhand embarrassment coursing through my body almost makes it hard to stand.

But even so, I can’t help but notice the way not a single line appears on her face when she aims her ultrawhite, megawatt smile at Keisha.

Dr. Hubbard really is a master at her craft.

I can see the thoughts running across Keisha’s face as she decides whether or not she’s going to choose violence.

Thankfully for the rest of our night, she takes the peaceful route.

“Keisha.” She shakes her hand. “So nice to meet you, Jasmine.”

Okay.

She chose the semiviolent path. I approve.

“It’s Jacqueline actually.” She puts an emphasis on the c sound, and I have to pull my lips between my teeth to stop myself from laughing. “Like the former First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy.”

“I’m so sorry!” Keisha’s smile matches Jacqueline’s in both size and authenticity. “I’ll be sure to remember that next time.”

“Oh don’t worry, it’s not a big deal.” The muscles on her face may be frozen, but not even that’s enough to mask that it absolutely is a big deal and Keisha should 100 percent be worried. “Come inside, grab a drink.”

We follow her into the kitchen, and there’s already a crowd swarming the island housing three charcuterie boards and more wine bottles than I can count at first glance.

Nora is chatting with Chloe and Odette is pouring a glass of wine that gets so close to the rim, it’s a wonder it doesn’t spill onto the floor.

“Impressive pour, Odes,” Keisha says. “I’ve never seen that skill at school.”

“Girl, school is the reason I’ve acquired such a skill.” Odette laughs. “I love my job, but that cafeteria gets loud and by the end of the day, a heavy pour is the only thing that keeps my brain from exploding.”