CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
BLOSSOM
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Kelly slid the chopstick back into her ponytail before smiling at me.
"Go on inside," I told her. "There's a drink waiting for you on the center table."
"Thank God," she muttered. "I think I’m going to need one."
I laughed softly. Without another word, she headed into the cottage. Tracy stepped up to me. She was dressed in dark jeans, a short-sleeved button-down jean shirt, and black sandals. Her hair was pushed back into a puffy afro with a black headband.
She stopped and opened her arms. I didn't hesitate. I stepped into them, wrapping my arms around her in a hug that felt achingly familiar. I'd hugged Tracy more times than I could count growing up.
Whenever my mother got onto me for doing something I wasn't supposed to do, I'd end up running to Tracy afterward, wanting comfort, reassurance, someone to tell me everything would be okay.
She’d always been that person. Some things never changed. Here I was, a grown-ass woman, still running to the older Petals whenever I needed help. Whenever I needed comfort. Tracy rubbed my back the same way she had when I was a little girl.
"You okay, Little Flower?" she asked.
I closed my eyes for a second, inhaling Tracy’s signature perfume. It was the same as when I was young. I don’t even know how she still managed to find it these days.
"I don't know," I admitted honestly. "But I will be. I just need time." Pulling back, I met her gaze. "I'll tell you all about it in the meeting." I swallowed. "Don't be disappointed in me after you hear what I have to say. Please."
Tracy frowned and cupped my cheeks.
"Baby girl, there's nothing you can do to make me be disappointed in you. You can kill everyone in this damn city, and I’d still defend you with my last breath. You’ve got that?"
I nodded, tearing up a little.
"I watched you grow up. I watched you blossom into the woman you are today." She grinned. "No pun intended."
A laugh escaped me before I could stop it.
“Whatever it is, we’ll face it together. We’ll fix it together. Or we’ll kill it together. That’s my motto. It ain’t never changed.”
"Thanks, Tracy."
“Now give me one more hug,” she told me.
I hugged her again, loving her for always being there for me and my mom.
"I want a hug too," someone called from the walkway.
The two of us looked up at the same time to see Dayana making her way toward us with a bright smile on her face. She'd dyed her buzz cut blonde since the last time I'd seen her, and the color suited her perfectly.
She was wearing a long black maxi dress, black sandals, and a pair of gold earrings that caught the afternoon sunlight every time she moved. The moment she reached us, she wrapped Tracy in a hug first before turning and throwing her arms around me.
"You looking good," I told her as we pulled apart.
“I know, right? I had a date. But I canceled it and told her I would see her later tonight,” Dayana told me.
"Ahh, Yana. I'm sorry for ruining your date."
She waved the apology away.
"It’s cool. You come before some girl I've just met," she told me.
I swallowed, knowing I needed to keep that same mindset when it came to Rome.
"Come on inside, ladies," I told them, opening the door wider. "We have a lot to talk about."
I stepped inside the cottage with Tracy and Dayana right behind me. Coke and rum awaited us when we entered the living room. Kelly was already seated on the couch, sipping from her glass. Dayana's gaze landed on the drinks.
"Oh, we've got drinks,” Dayana drawled. “That means this is going to be a deep conversation." She reached down, picked up one of the glasses, then plopped onto the couch beside Kelly. "Hey, Kels Bells."
"Hey, Yana," Kelly greeted before taking another sip.
Tracy settled onto the couch beside me. She picked up her glass, took a long sip, then looked over at me.
"Okay, Blossy. We're all here. What do you need to tell us?"
I rubbed my hands over my knees, working up the nerve to admit what I needed to and tell them my plan.
“Hey,” Kels said. “Why isn’t Ivy here?”
“Oh, a Petal called, requesting help in Texas. Ivy volunteered to go help,” I told them.
“The job must’ve required muscle,” Dayana said.
I nodded.
Dayana chuckled. “If it involves murder and mayhem, my girl Ivy is there.”
That was true.
"Actually, I'm glad she went to Texas,” I admitted. "If she was here for this meeting, she’d definitely take it upon herself to go after the Cattaneos on her own. And that would not be wise."
Kelly's expression immediately changed.
"Did something happen with Rome?" she asked, fear filtering into her hazel eyes.
"Kind of." I clasped my hands together before looking at each of them in turn. "I'm going to tell you all everything. Please let me get it all out before you curse me out or ask me questions."
"Shit! This is about to be heavy," Dayana muttered before taking a huge sip of her drink.
I drew in a deep breath and released it slowly. There was no point in trying to soften any of this. Or trying to excuse it. I'd made my choices. Now I had to own up to them.
"I'll start from the beginning,” I said.
And I did just that, starting from the moment I first hacked Rome. I explained how what should've been a simple intelligence-gathering mission had slowly become something else entirely. Something personal. Something dangerous.
I kept my eyes on theirs, moving around to each of them, refusing to shy away from what I’d done. I’d fucked up. I would accept whatever scolding they gave. I admitted my feelings for Rome and told them of his feelings for me.
Though I didn’t mention the naughty bits, I did admit to late-night video chats with him. I made sure to tell them that I’d worn a mask each time. I couldn’t help but notice Dayana’s smirk.
Shit like that was right up her kinky alley. Then I moved on to him showing up at the shop with a client and somehow connecting me to the woman who’d hacked him, who’d chatted with him, who’d fallen for him.
"He suspects I'm the woman who was hacking him. But he hasn't connected our shop to the Marcel incident. I need to keep him from discovering our connection to Marcel. But as long as I’m here, he’s going to keep coming by the shop. I’ll have to leave if I want him to stop showing up here.
That’s why I plan to go help out at a different branch for a few months.
With me away from the shop," I explained.
“It'll take some heat off the store. And hopefully, Rome will stop coming around. "
"Where will you go?" Kelly asked.
"I'll transfer to the Alabama shop." My gaze shifted to Tracy. "Your daughter, Nina, told me last week that her shop was short-staffed. I can go help her out until we find a Petal who's willing to relocate there permanently."
Tracy nodded. "Nina would love to have you."
"What do we do if Rome comes here looking for you?" Kelly asked.
"Tell him I went on vacation." I looked toward Dayana. "As far as the shop goes, we've got a lot happening here. Dayana, I need you to manage the store while I'm gone."
She nodded. "I can do that."
Then I turned to Kelly. "Kelly, I'll need you to work more days if you're up for it."
"I'll do it,” she said. “I’ll do whatever you need me to do."
"Thank you," I told her. "If something comes up at work or outside of work, call Dayana or Tracy. If you can't reach either of them, call me right away. I don't care what time it is. You got it?"
"I got it,” Kelly told me.
"If things get too busy for you two to handle, call Ebony. Since tax season is over, she’s not busy at her tax office right now.
She told me if we ever need help, she can help out.
Even though I'll be away, I'll still help with weddings and anything else that comes up. We’ll hold Zoom meetings before each shift until our event season dies down. "
My gaze drifted to Tracy.
"Tracy..." My throat tightened. "I'm leaving my mom in your care. I'll visit her before I leave. But I may not be able to see her for a month or so. Please... Please take care of her for me."
"Don't worry," Tracy said softly. "Me and the old gals will protect and care for Camelia. You do what you have to do to get this Cattaneo off your trail. We’ll hold down the fort here."
"If something happens, just call me. I'll come back,” I promised.
“I hate to be a negative Nancy,” Dayana started. “But I’ve got to ask. Are you sure this plan will work? Will this really make him give up on you?"
"I don't know," I admitted. "I’m hoping once he stops seeing me at the shop, he’ll stop coming here. I need him to stop coming here. I need this shop off his radar."
Dayana sat quietly for a second before speaking again.
"It sounds to me like you're using yourself as bait to keep him from looking into the shop."
She could read me so well.
“Blossy, we are not afraid of the Cattaneo family,” Dayana said. “If it comes down to it, we’re ready to go up against them. Fuck running. If this Rome guy is being a problem, we can handle him.”
“I know we can handle the Cattaneos. But I’m trying to avoid a confrontation unless it’s absolutely necessary.
By leaving, I’m hoping he stops coming to the shop.
As I said, I don't think he suspects us of anything involving Marcel right now. He just wants me. He wants the woman who hacked him and flirted with him. I’m his obsession.
I need to get away so he'll stop tying me to his hacker. That’s why I’m leaving. "
“Hmmm...” Dayana hummed, clearly not buying what I was saying.
Even so, she let the subject drop.
"My plan may not work. But I have to try. Besides..." I swallowed. "I need to get away from him too because... I’m just as obsessed with him as he is with me."
There, I’d said it. They now knew how far gone I was. Three pairs of eyes remained fixed on me.