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When Courtney cleared her throat, Easped Courtney had pulled her blouse over her head and was standing in the middle of the aisle in her pleated skirt and a lacy pink bra It wasn’t like she was showing off…but she wasn’t hiding, either

Eer than Ali’s had been, but she had the sah E in a bikini by the pool, Prada aviators perched on the tip of her nose Ali lounging on Spencer’s couch in gray terry-cloth boy shorts, her long, tanned legs crossed at the ankles The feel of Ali’s soft lips when Emily kissed her in the tree house The excitement Emily felt in those heady seconds before Ali pushed her away

Courtney turned, noticing that E One eyebrow arched slyly A smile spread across Courtney’s lips Emily tried to smile back, but her lips felt like they were made of Gummi worms Could Courtney know about the kiss? Had Ali told her? And was Courtney…flirting?

The ain and E her reddish-blond hair in the full-lengthout a loud yawn As Eht her eye once , seductive wink, as if she knew exactly what she was doing…and exactly how it made Emily feel

9

SECRETS, SECRETS EVERYWHERE

"Welco Salon!" a chipper wouided the faie spa Groos couldn’t even groos stopped to sniff a large potted fern in the corner--and then lift their legs on it--Melissa let out a dralance in Spencer’s direction Spencer gri their oraphobe Duly noted Did she have to raot?

A pigtailed groomer, who didn’t look much older than Spencer, said she’d be with them in a few minutes Spencer flopped down on a leather chair, and Beatrice slu on one of the toes of Spencer’s Kate Spade ballet flats

Someone cleared her throat across the roo a teacup Chihuahua was giving her the stink eye "You’re that girl whose dead friend had a secret twin, right?" she said, pointing When Spencer nodded, the wo close, as if Spencer were possessed "Nothing good can coood"

Spencer’s mouth fell open "Excuse me?"

"Mrs Abernathy?" a voice called from the hall "We’re ready for you and Mr Belvedere" The old woave Spencer a final foreboding look and disappeared around the corner

Next to her, Melissa let out a baffled sniff Spencer sneaked a tiny peek at her As usual, her sister’s chin-length hair was sht, her peachy skin was flawless, and her checkered wool coat was lint-free All at once, Spencer was so sick of their stupid rift If crazy old ladies in vintage Chanel had opinions about the bomb Mrs DiLaurentis dropped yesterday, then certainly Melissa did, too Ali wasn’t the only one with a secret sister--Courtney was Spencer and Melissa’s half sister, too

"What do you think we should do about Courtney?" Spencer asked her

Melissa dropped an organic dog biscuit back into a crystal bowl "Pardon?"

"Courtney said that Ali told her a lot about us Should I get to know her since…you knoe’re related?"

Melissa looked away "I didn’t realize Ali and Courtney were very close What kind of stuff did she know?" She unscrewed the cap to her purple Nalgene bottle and took a long gulp

Spencer felt an anxious pull in the pit of her stomach "What did you say to Jason at the press conference, anyway?"

Melissa nearly choked on a "

Spencer clutched Beatrice’s leash So let out an unhappy yowl It was clearly not nothing "And since when are you friends with Jason? I haven’t seen you two talk since high school"

The bells at the front door jingled, and a man walked in with an enormous poodle, a bandana around her neck Both Rufus and Beatrice jumped to their feet, instantly alert Spencer kept her eyes on her sister, determined not to back down until Melissa told her the truth

Finally, Melissa sighed "I was telling Jason that he should’ve told e h the stereo suddenly went silent "What do you mean ‘back’? Did you know about Courtney?" Spencer whispered

Melissa kept her eyes on her coat in her lap "U?"

"Since high school"