Page 73 of Muted

Tilting my body toward him without paying much attention, I repeat myself. “I can’t hear you. Cliff isn’t here. Try back next week.”

I press my lips together when Vance waves for Susu to come over to his bench, scooting over to make room.This motherfucker left like six inches for her!My chest is heaving when she smiles at him, looking up from under her lashes like he’s God’s gift to fucking women.

“Sammy, what are you doing here?”

Thank God Chaz is here because this guy hasn’t moved the entire time I consider different ways of hiding Vance’s body.

Have I missed something? Is there something between the two of them?

“Where’s Cliff?” Sammy asks, shoving his hands in his pockets and looking around at the packed bar room. “I’ve been trying to get a hold of him, but he keeps sending me to voicemail.”

“He has a family thing to take care of. What do you need him for? I’ve already signed and submitted the paperwork to Bonnie to cancel our contract. Is there an issue?” Chaz asks.

“It’s personal. I need to know when he’ll be back.”

There’s an underlying threat lacing Sammy’s voice when he answers, which draws my attention from the way Vance has his body pressed against Susu’s. As much as I want to keep my eyes there,thisis my job and I’m not leaving Chaz to deal with him alone.

Standing up, I stretch my body to my full 6’4” height, then cross my arms to stare down at him. Sammy only stands up to my chin. He flicks his eyes over my tattooed arms and then shifts a step back while pretending to smooth out his shirt.

“I’ll leave him a message,” is all Chaz says.

Clearing my throat, I gain Sammy’s attention. “Anything else you need? You gonna stick around for a drink or head out? If you’re staying, I need to see your ID.”

He holds his hands up, indicating he’s not staying. “I’ll head out. Don’t worry about leaving a message, but feel free to let him know I stopped by. Have a nice night, gentlemen.”

Both Chaz and I watch as he leaves and then glance at each other. “What the hell does he need Cliff for?” I ask my friend, but he doesn’t answer. He just frowns at where our ex-supplier disappeared down the sidewalk.

Another ear-deafening cheer explodes throughout the bar and we both turn to see Vance’s arm around Susu’s body. I fucking see red when he presses a proprietary kiss against her temple, making her turn away from the audience toward him to hide her blush.

She can’t hide it from me, though. My eyes are narrowed on her face, and it’s like she can sense it. Picking her head up, she looks directly at me, and the sweet smile falls when she takes me in and howunhappy I am to be watching the ‘show’ they’re putting on.

When Vance whispers in her ear, she jerks her gaze from me and I take a step toward them, only to be stopped by Chaz.

“What are you doing?”

Pointing at them, I bite out, “Do you see this?”

“Yeah…” he trails off, sighing. Then he uses his hand on my shoulder to push me back down to my chair. “But you aren’t going to do anything about it.”

“She’smine.” And I’ve never been more certain of anything. My friend’s next question infuriates me.

“Is she?”

I whip my head to glare at him, then realize he knows something I don’t know. “What the fuck do you know?”

He shrugs, saying, “I don’t really know much. But what I do know is that you established something between the two of you. So, whatever is going on between them is betweenthem.”

The bartender waves Chaz over. Before he leaves, he smacks me on the shoulder. “Don’t be a dick, you fucker. She’s a good girl.”

I continue to watch them with narrowed eyes as they play song after song on thesame fucking piano bench. My jaw begins to ache with how hard I’m clenching it. I send her another text.

Me: Playing together on the same piano… is that a regular thing now? People seem to like it, but you’re practically sitting in his lap so you don’t fall off the bench. Why not just stay on your own?

I’ve barely hit send when Vance throws his head back, laughing loudly, and uses an arm to tug her onto his lap. Her whole body is moving as she reaches over and back across his arm rapidly. He has his head resting on her shoulder to read the music. Both of them are so fluid as they play that my stomach sinks.

There’s a connection and comfortability between them I haven’t gotten to with her. Not a word in my ear, but he’s gotten them. Isawher speak to him. While they finish their song, slamming their hands rapidly on the keys for the finale, I text her once more.

Me: What the fuck is going on between you and Vance?!

---