‘If that’s what she really wants.’ Jemima tutted, tapping at the TV remote.

‘How do you mean?’

‘It just seems an unfair pressure on you that you have to be working before she can move on. She made up the rules for this plan. She could break them,’ said Jemima as she scrolled through the TV menu.

‘But, Jem, if you keep changing the rules that’s not a plan. That’s just – life!’

‘Well, life always gives helpful nudges. Maybe you should move on so there’s nothing standing in the way for either of you,’ said Jemima at last selecting Scandal on the Webflix menu.

‘I suppose…’ said Simi, clouded in even more uncertainty.

Was it possible Meagan was using Simi to scupper her own life plans or was it the other way around? Out of her own deep insecurities, was Simi sticking with Meagan to hold herself back? Was Meagan her crutch?

Chapter 35

Jemima

All day, Jemima had had a growing sense of doom. That afternoon, with one click, she’d sent the finished draft of Beverly Blake Discoveries to Eve. Yes, she’d put an end to the saga she’d been living in for months but in doing so, had put something much bigger in motion. In the end, she’d used more stories than she had intended. By including the stalking details, she’d needed to balance things out so had borrowed even more from Meagan. In the days before sending the draft, she’d felt like she was going crazy. One minute she’d be certain her actions were terminal and only fixable with a one way ticket to LA. The next, she’d laugh at the fuss she was making, reassuring herself the girls would be fine. But whatever the outcome, one thing was true. The deed was done and Jemima felt no jubilation – just dread.

Right now, copy-editors were notating, marketing people were brainstorming cover designs and Jemima was sitting on a ticking timebomb she had failed to stop countless times. Now she had no choice. She had to tell the girls. Obviously not tonight though as they were heading to the Hudson Hicks party. Somehow, Jemima had to slap a smile on and get through it. She exhaled wishing she could uninvite Simi and Meagan – just this once. But that wasn’t possible. They’d been her guests every year since she’d signed with Hudson Hicks. It wasn’t just a highlight in her calendar anymore. Simi picked her outfit three months in advance.

Jemima eyed herself in the mirror as she slipped on her cream blazer. From the living room she could hear Simi getting ready. She popped in an earring. Tonight was the first time Simi and Meagan had seen each other since their fallout and that was another reason why it was not the night to drop more manure over everything. After the painting party, Meagan had disappeared into a spiral of work, the game had fallen away into the background and it felt like their lives were moving onto diverging paths. Jemima hoped Simi and Meagan would put their issues behind them but with Simi now seeking a new agent, how long would that last even if they did?