Page 73 of Unspoken Lies

“Night, boss,” she says as I wave goodbye to her.

I want to see Rachelle, know how her night was, and if I can get her to talk to me at all. Even if it’s to tell me to fuck all the way off.

Now that makes me hard. I never said I was normal. Quite the opposite in fact.

“Ready?” Theo asks with a smirk as I appear.

“Yeah,” I say with a tired smile as I pop out my earplugs and put them into their carrying case.

They accept my quirks because they’re a part of me. I hope we can hold space for Rachelle like that, even if it’s different from normal people. We crave danger and fear in equal measures with our love. A part of me even hopes to try to mend things with Ignacio, but I don’t know if things will ever be the same.

He chose her, and we chose wrong.

Slipping through the back door of the shop with the guys, I smile at Brea.

“How were things today?” I ask her.

She speaks more with Theo, so she gazes at the three of us with surprise.

“They were busy,” she says, wide eyed. “It’s been a relief to have Rachel back, though. I think she’ll have clients for as long as she’s here.”

Theo keeps his voice lowered because Rachelle is still in the shop up front. I can hear her chatting with someone as she rings them up.

“How are you handling her tarot card readings?” he asks. “Is the store collecting the money or is she getting it?”

“I tip her out for her readings,” Brea says, affronted. “They’re forty-five dollars each, and she received the full payment.”

“Good,” Theo says, sighing.

“It’s an extra service, is what Theo means,” Jared explains. “We’re grateful she’s adding to the shop’s value, and she should receive that money.”

Brea continues to stare at us as if we’ve grown several heads, and I clear my throat.

“We’re going to head out,” I say. “We just wanted to check in and see how she was doing since she missed work so early in her employment history with us.”

“Bah,” Brea says, flicking her fingers at me. “Sometimes, people are sick and can’t come in. Don’t hold that against the girl.”

After reassuring her that we wouldn’t, I start walking toward the front of the store. Cursing under my breath, I see her hair as she begins to cross the street.

“Don’t chase her,” Theo mutters as we push our way through the door and begin to trail Rachelle. “Let’s avoid freaking her out.”

Knowing he’s right, our long strides catch up to her at the next intersection.

“Fancy meeting you here,” I say with a smirk.

Watching as she purses her lips at me, I tell myself that she’s simply caught between a smirk and a snarl. It’s not my fault she’s stuck.

“What are you doing?” Rachelle asks as she glances both ways and begins to cross the street.

“Walking you home?” Jared asks with a shrug.

“Why?” she asks, sounding tired.

“We wanted to talk to you about something,” I say quickly, glancing at the guys for help.

“I’m listening…” she says.

“Did you have a chance to have dinner before coming into work?” Jared asks, glancing at a diner that’s still open that we’re going to pass soon.