Page 99 of Muted

When I see his shoulders relax, I know he’s on the same page as me. Meeting my eye, he nods quickly before we turn to Vance, who looks ready to lunge at Cliff. “Ignore that shit, man,” I urge him. I’m not sure why I’m trying to help him here, but I’ll admit, I can tolerate the idea of Susu and Vance. Plus, she’s happy around him and I won’t let him doubt her. What I’d never tolerate is Susu and Cliff. That makes me want to fucking vomit.

He flicks his eyes at me, nodding the same as Chaz. It’s like we all just had a silent agreement thatwecan have our issues with each other, but at the end of the day, Susanna Walston is the one that matters.

“All of you are fucking idiots. Running around here, allowing a fucking teenager to lead you by your dicks. I told you from the start, we shouldn’t have hired her. Look what she’s doing! You all are standing around here, bitching like women and feelings when we’ve got shit to do.”

Cliff is furious that we aren’t engaging with his lies. Calling over my shoulder to him, I poke him a little more. “I’m not working today, Cliffy.” The sound of his growl makes me smile again, and I try not to chuckle when Chaz covers his mouth, hiding his smile.

Jerking my head toward the lot out back, I tell the other two, “Walk out with me, would you?” Without waiting for them, I spin on my heel and walk past Cliff without a glance. Once outside, I pull my keys from my pocket to unlock the door of my truck. Reaching in, I start the engine, then slam it shut while the other two make their way over to me.

“Look, obviously you both know Cliff is full of himself, but I’m going to make sure before I leave you both aren’t buying into his bullshit.” My eyes bounce between the two of them. There’s no doubt in either of them and I blow out a breath.

“I immediately remembered everything from before, and I knew he was absolutely full of shit.” Chester says. He’s cracking his neck with irritation over Cliff’s attempt to cause dissension between us.

Vance seems lost, trying to follow along. “What happened before?”

Throwing out the sharing rule, Chaz says, “Do you remember when she left and disappeared for a few days? We’re certain that Cliff and Susu had some sort of altercation, which upset her. His story is crap, so I don’t know exactly what was said, but there’s no way that they’re hooking up on the side. Not with her reacting to him like that.”

With his hands fisted at his sides, Vance bares his teeth, biting out, “Yes. That wasCliff?” He shifts like he’s going to go back inside, but we stop him.

“It was,” I tell him, grabbing his arm. “But there’s other shit going on, so just trust us, he’s not going to be around much longer, and it won’t happen again.” I’ve never been more serious about anything. There’s no way Cliff is getting near her again if I have a say in it.

Vance looks up at the sky, wincing when he rubs his hand against his chest. “I fucking hate this.”

I hesitate for a moment and really take a look at Vance Stoll. He looks torn up over the fact that Cliff upset her, stressed about not being able to confront him for it, and I realize that thereissomething that he has going for him that Chaz nor I have. The two of us can have sympathy and understanding when she’s struggling, but Vance? Vance fuckingfeelsher pain. He’s filled with so much empathy, it’s like he knows what she’s experiencing.

Chaz catches my attention, and I know he sees it too. There’s nothing but acceptance written all over him. Stepping next to him, he slaps him on the shoulder. “Don’t let this eat at you right now. Susu isn’t coming in today. Why don’t you get out of here? I think we’re all agreed that we won’t get into each other’s way while she figures out what she wants to do, yes?”

He nods through deep breaths, calming himself down. “I should call her,” he mutters, but I grunt out a noise, catching their attention.

I’m not embarrassed, but I feel ridiculous even having to say this. “I, uhhh…” I grip the back of neck and laugh. “I was going to leave and spend some time texting with her. It’s been sort of our thing, if you don’t have a problem with that?”

Not one hint of jealousy on his face when he smiles and holds up a hand. “No worries. I’ll see her tomorrow, anyway. I’m going to get out of here. I’d like to say ‘good talk’, but you two are sort of assholes and I’m really considering questioning what the hell she sees in either one of you.”

My face immediately falls into a frown, and then a scowl when he laughs. “Fuck off, Vance.”

Waving at me, he walks away, calling out, “Not until she tells me to!”

“Jesus,” Chaz breathes out, then chuckles. “That dude is a bit off his rocker.”

“I feel like we didn’t decide anything today. This whole conversation was a waste of time.” I’m seriously considering following him to show him how much of an asshole I can be.

Heading back toward the door, Chaz walks backwards as he says, “We figured out that all three of us care and have her best interest at heart. That’s important, Theo. Go home. Talk to our girl.” He salutes me, then turns around and disappears inside.

Without waiting, I jump into my truck and open my phone, surprised to find a text waiting for me from Susu already.

Susu: You never told me what you thought about the last poem I sent you…

Me: I know. I haven’t been able to get you alone.

Fuck, that’s been on my mind since I read it. I wanted to find her and make her come, mimicking the words of her poem. The same way I kissed her to the words of her last one.

Susu: We needed to be alone?

Me: Very much so…

Susu: Interesting. Now I’m doubly disappointed.

Me: I want to play a game with you.

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