CHAPTER EIGHTY – OFF TO CINCINNATI

"An art convention? In Cincinnati?" Jasmine stared at the invitation letter, brow furrowed. "I'm not sure this is really my scene." Beth snatched the paper from her hands, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Exactly why you have to go! When's the last time you did something totally outside your comfort zone?" Jasmine opened her mouth to protest, but Beth barreled on. "No, don't even answer that. You've been playing it way too safe lately, Miss Fancy Art Gallery Show." She punctuated the teasing with a gentle nudge. "This'll be an adventure! A glimpse into the quirky, unabashedly geeky side of art fandom." Laughing despite herself, Jasmine ran a hand through her tousled curls. "I don't know, Beth. Conventions seem a little...intense for me. What if I'm horribly out of place?" "Then I'll be there to escalate the situation into a gloriously memorable debacle!" Beth declared with a wicked grin. "But seriously, you need to shake things up. Get out of your pretentious artsy comfort zone."