Chapter 24 #2
“She can hear perfectly well. Just because she doesn’t talk, doesn’t mean she’s not actively listening to everything we’re saying.
So it’s fine to ask her to slow things down and please sign slightly slower.
You will learn so much from her by just paying attention, but if you need her to slow down, just ask her.
I shouldn’t have lost my temper, because you’re right.
Bee is going to be advancing much quicker than us, because not only will she be having daily lessons at school, I’m also going to be doing daily lessons with her.
So it's fine for you all to feel a bit overwhelmed. One day at a time, and we’ll all get there.
Although, I’m sure we can all agree the hope is that this mutism isn’t permanent.
Thank you, Riley. You did good, and I hope you accept my apology. ”
“What the fuck?” Vienna said, looking around at the other members, a puzzled look on his face. “You’re all hearing this, right? Right?!”
No one said anything.
“She’s just apologised to us. And she said Riley was right. Nope.” he shook his head, making his stupid beard wave over his chest. “I don’t like it.”
“Vienna—” I began.
“You remember when she threw a dart, right?” Vienna almost shouted, seeming perplexed that no one else was as concerned as he was.
“And that pint glass,” Sunshine piped up.
Oh, here we go.
Nope, this wasn’t happening. I was taking control of this before my sign language class became a history lesson instead.
“Anyway… As I was saying, you’re all actually doing really well. Despite Vienna’s constant interruptions. Right, show me what you’ve learnt.”
I had gone over a lot this lesson. Most of them knew the basics.
They knew hello, goodbye, thank you, you’re welcome, yes, and no.
But that was about it. I had gone over how to ask Bee if she wanted a drink, if she was hungry, how was her day, and how are you?
Now was their time to show me they had actually absorbed what I had said.
“You first, Dante,” I said, finally meeting his eye for the first time this morning.
“You’re”, Dante signed. “Annoying.”
I raised my eyebrow at him and ran my tongue over my teeth.
“Cute. So you do know sign language, and just chose not to use it. Says a lot.”
“Or perhaps you just chose to think the worst, as you usually do, and didn’t give me a chance to explain properly.”
“Or, you just didn’t bother giving me the full story, as per usual, and expected me to read between the lines,” I said, my voice as pleasant as I could make it.
“Oh, sheet,” I heard Vienna mutter in the background, but I was too focused on Dante to pay any attention to what he was up to.
“Or maybe you’re just a hard ass who doesn’t like to let other people talk. Was that clear enough, or should I sign it for you?”
“I knew her being nice was all an act! It’s happening, it’s happening!” I could see him jumping up and down in my peripheral.
“She’s gonna blow,” I heard Greg hiss, his voice sounding slightly panicked.
“This is my favourite part,” Vienna laughed, grabbing Greg’s cut with his meaty fists and shaking him before running to hide behind a chair. I snapped my head round to look, seeing Vienna almost giddy with glee, and Greg run for the door.
“What? What’s happening?” Pivot muttered.
“Get down, boy!” Doc snapped.
“You’re being ridiculous.” Pivot said, rolling his eyes at them all.
“You think I’m a hard ass?” I said, ignoring the idiots behind me.
“I think you’re stubborn and a hardass,” Dante smirked back.
If I had to see that goddamn smirk one more time, I was going to staple his stupid lips shut.
“Yeah? Well, I think you’re a neglectful father who has spent more time learning sign language in the last few hours, just to piss me off, than he has learning sign to communicate with his daughter in the past eighteen months.”
“Pivot, seriously man, get the fuck down,” Vienna snapped as Dante glared at me.
“Truth hurt?” I signed to Dante, a smug grin on my lips. I saw Jenna whispering to the old ladies, and all of them throwing concerned glances my way.
“None of us would be in this situation at all if it wasn’t for you. We wouldn’t need sign language had you not decided to mess with Bee’s feelings and fuck off without her.”
His words hit me like a bullet, but I’d be damned if I let him see that. So, instead, I called on the familiar mask I had once donned, and looked at him with scorn.
“Rachel, sweetheart, why don’t you come over here and sit with us for a bit?” Imogen tried to intervene. No doubt Jenna had told them all about the contract and they were just trying to help prevent me from losing my temper.
I was never in any danger of that.
“Your attempts to hurt me are weak, Dante. You’re losing your touch. Bee is traumatised from the aftermath of your actions, and your club and—”
“Can I come back in yet? I’m sorry—” Bambi didn’t get to finish his sentence. I picked up an ashtray off the bar and threw it with all my strength. Pivot ducked just in time, and it smashed off the wall next to Bambi. He quickly scurried back out the door.
“Told you,” Vienna hissed at Pivot. “ That’s why you duck.”
“We’re done,” I said, locking eyes with Dante as I said the words. If I was called under oath, I’d tell them all I was directing my words to the entire club and ending the lesson. But he knew the truth.
I was talking about him.
Us.
The contract would keep him under control, but the real Dante was always hidden under there and he would never change. I would never change. And that’s why we would never work. I couldn’t live in this toxic hell the rest of my life.
“If you want to know sign, you can approach me individually. After all, in six months Bee will be living with me, and we’ll have lovely conversations together. You guys can continue to do whatever it is that you’ve prioritised over her so far. She’ll finally be with someone who cares.”
I turned and walked away before we could say anything else.