I shook my head at her nonsense but mentally patted myself on the back. However, I couldn’t accept all the credit.
“One of our Petals, Martina, came up with the idea,” I told them. “I just tweaked it to make it feel more believable.”
“Look at my Spanish sister, Martina, showing up and showing out,” Ivy drawled.
“So,” Tina started. “You created a trail for Rome to follow. And that trail leads to a dead end, literally.”
“Yes.”
Tina slowly nodded. “That could work. That could actually work.”
The knot in my chest loosened slightly as relief swept through me. Sure, Rome was still out there, still searching, still asking questions. I hoped once he found the answer we’d planted, he’d give up.
But if he ever found out the truth...
I shoved that thought away before it could take root. He would never learn the truth. Ever! Tina pushed away from the display case.
“Alright. I'll keep listening for news about Rome and Marcel. If I hear anything, I'll let you girls... I mean.... Women... know,” Tina told us, glaring at Ivy, who blew her a kiss.
“Thanks,” I told her.
“You’re welcome, dear.” She faced the register. “Ivy, ring me up a vase of roses.”
Ivy blinked. “A vase of roses?”
“Yes. If there’s somebody watching me or this shop, it'll look suspicious if I leave empty-handed.”
Ivy frowned. “Do you have someone spying on you?”
“Not that I know of.”
“If you want, I can kill them.”
Tina barked out a laugh. “Poison Ivy, I love the way you think. But I don't think anyone is currently watching me. Still, if they are, it'll seem suspicious if I leave with nothing.”
“Fair enough,” Ivy told her.
While Ivy prepared the arrangement, I remained by the door with my hands tucked into my apron pockets. One hand was clutching my shears as if they could protect me from my fears.
Rome Cattaneo was back in the States.
I know I should focus on all the reasons that should terrify me, but part of me kept wondering whether he'd noticed my absence. I hadn't tried to hack him in days. Hadn't tested his firewalls.
Hadn’t challenged him or been challenged by him. There had been no lunch games, no nightly sex chats.Nothing. I’d stopped my addiction cold turkey. How had that made him feel? Was he angry?
Or, had he moved on?
Did he even care?
I wanted him to care, but I also wanted him not to care. I wanted him to miss me, but I didn’t want him to be hurt because of me. These conflicting emotions had me feeling like a horrible person.
But what choice did I have? I had to protect myself and my Petals. Fingers snapped in front of my face. I blinked, looking forward. I found Ms. Tina staring at me.
“What are you thinking about?” she asked.
Forcing a smile, I said, “An order I need to be working on.”
“Hmmm,” she hummed, looking like she didn’t believe me. “By the way, how is Camelia?”
