A Dahlia Amongst the Daisies and Marigolds

Buried Truths

"I cannot believe you did that, in front of everyone!" Mitzi exclaims as she is pacing in front of the bar. Rocky, Calvin and Ivy sat on the stools with Wick and Zib, watching anxiously while Viktor stood next to Paloma with an unamused expression. "And Asa even said you were that man's fling?!"

"First off, that was a lie. Second, I...I had a good reason at the time to kiss him but right now I think it was a rather dumb idea." Paloma says and looks away sheepishly. "We've...kind of been running into each other in public during off work hours. When Asa saw us talking to each other in a familiar way, that was the lie used."

"YOU'VE WHAT?!"

"Wait, the guy we ran into at the ice cream parlor?" Rocky asks. "You flipped your lid when you saw him, why would you kiss him?"

"Yeah, why?" Ivy adds with a small frown. "Also he and that crazy lady with the gun were gonna hurt me that night in the quarry!"

"Alright, simmer down! Let's all not start jumping down her throat." Wick says loudly, motioning for them to calm down. "I'm sure it was just a heat of the moment thing on the stage, and nothing happened during the public run-ins."

"Thank you Wick!" Paloma groans. "Look, the times that has happened it was only by pure coincidence, it's not like he was stalking me. I only met the guy first time when Asa invited me to the hotel to try and convince me to join, then he and his associates gave me a ride when they spotted me walking after I couldn't find a cab, but I left after I put a gun in their faces. For some reason, he seems to have an interest in me."

"I mean, some men like their women a little feisty, like a certain man did a year ago." Zib says with a shrug and Viktor lets out a snort.

"Yeah well, I don't think me slapping him twice and hitting him with a book is gonna do anything." Paloma mutters.

"If you don't like him, why'd you kiss him then?" Calvin asks quietly.

"Must I answer that question?"

"No you don't have to." Wick says quickly. "Look, we all just got a bit worried for you, that's all. Mitzi especially since Asa has been telling her some things about you, like how he saw you at some birthday party and Mordecai was there."

Oh, she almost forgot that Asa was at Nico's birthday party that night, dragging Mordecai along. And speaking of, he disappeared after the performance when she went to go look for him after slapping Nico. Looking back on it, kissing him was not a smart idea to get Mordecai jealous, and she was now regretting it. She really thought Kuura and Serafine were going to lay it on her for slapping Nico, but the smaller woman was nowhere to be found and the Savoy sister was yelling at him in French and smacking his head before apologizing to her.

"I was invited to that party by Nico, the man I sang with. When Mordecai showed up, he went ballistic seeing us together, assaulted his coworker and started screaming at him. I interfered and dragged him off to yell at him before leaving." Paloma explains.

"Jealousy much?" Rocky snorts.

"Well please refrain from interacting with the Marigolds in public from now on, Selena made us come to a truce, but something tells me Asa is plotting and we can't let our guard down." Mitzi says with a tired sigh. "And that goes for all of you. Are we clear?"

"Yes ma'am." The gang responds, along with Wick.

"Good. Dismissed for the day, see you all tonight."

Once out of the speakeasy and on the street, Paloma lets out a tired sigh and starts to walk in the direction of her home when she hears footsteps behind her. Tensing, she slipped her hand into her purse to grip the revolver hidden inside, ready to defend herself.