Page 70 of Muted

Theo scratches his chin, slightly embarrassed. “No, actually. We’ve only communicated by text. She hasn’t talked to me.”

“Then how the hell did that happen back there?” I ask, pointing toward the hallway I discovered them in.

He lets out a loud laugh, then stands up. “Texts, my friend. Lots and lots of texts.” Walking out of the office, he calls over his shoulder, “I’m going to do inventory!”

As I watch him leave, all I can think is how I wish I was him.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The drive to Susu’s place is silent for the first few minutes. It’s heavy and awkward, but maybe that’s just me. She’s comfortable as she scrolls through the music on my phone, looking for her first song to play for the night.

“I’m going to make a detour. I’m starving, and I’m sure you are as well. You have a problem with that?” I ask her. Lifting her head slowly to stare at me, I can see her shrug, which I assume means she doesn’t care either way.

The muscle in my jaw pops as I continue to battle my jealousy. Since the bar wasn’t open to the public tonight, it’s still light out as we make our way through the street.

I’m not starving for food. I’m fucking hungry forherand it’s making me grumpy. Deciding against the stop, I drop my hand on the center console again, palm open to her. She eyes it briefly, then continues to scroll.

“Give me your hand, Susu.” It’s not a question or request this time. I want to ask her some questions and this is the only way I know how at the moment.

Her arms drop into her lap, this time reading the mood I’m in.Idon’t even know what kind of mood I’m in.

Hungry.

Frustrated.

Irritable.

Horny.

Jealous asfuck.

“Now,please.” I emphasize the please, and finally she slips her palm against mine and I grip her firmly. “Same as last time,” I tell her, and I swear I can hear her swallow down her nerves.

“You said you have parents. Do they live here in town?” The last time I asked her questions, they were superficial. Tonight, I need to know more. I need to know her version of her story.

Her arm tenses up, but she doesn’t pull away when she squeezes my hand twice. So, no… they don’t live here with her.

My brain tries to come up with a way to ask more without letting her know that I’ve discovered a lot of information about her beyond a normal background check.

“Did you live with them while you attended college here?” Another ‘no’ answer, and I’m only slightly relieved that she’s telling me the truth.

My next question comes quicker. “Didyou attend college here?”

This time, she doesn’t answer me right away and whips her head to face me with a questioning look. I don’t meet her eyes, choosing to keep my eyes on the road as we make our way through downtown. When she eventually gives me just one squeeze, my face hardens, and I turn to her with a cool look.

“Please don’t lie to me, Susu.”

She attempts to slip her hand with mine, but I thread our fingers together more firmly, not allowing her to pull away.

“Did you go to school here?” I ask again. I know my voice sounds gruff, but it’s more because I’ve been battling my conflicting feelings over her and the disappointment that Theo got to her first.

When she squeezes my hand twice, I blow out a breath in relief. “Did you move here recently?”

Yes. She admits what I already knew.

“I want to ask you why you lied about it, but there’s no way for me to ask where you can just say yes or no. So, instead, I want to know if you lied about anything else when you applied to work for me.” I don’t care that she did but having her admit it will make me feel like I’m not on the outside with her.

Another single squeeze as she admits she did.

---