Page 120 of Shattered Silence Duet

I start to lean toward her, but something stops me. We haven’t even spoken to her about what our intentions are with her, or our involvement in the murder case yet. I can’t take this further right now.

Instead, I grab my laptop and stand up quickly. “Alright, well, I think this discovery earns us a snack break and a movie. What would you like? Popcorn?”

She lets out a small breath, her smile faint as she nods.

I all but rush out of the room to get our snacks. We’ve been doing that a lot lately—keeping our distance. Since she came home, I’ve only given her a few pecks on the head or a squeeze on the shoulder. That was the first time I’ve truly kissed her. I know it’s confusing her, and honestly, it’s starting to get to me, too.

After how we acted at the hospital, I thought maybe we were ready to take a step forward. Max even called her his girlfriend. But now? None of us have brought it up again, and I can see her wondering what it all means.

I know what her mother did to her—what she said. She told her she was unworthy of love, that she had a demon inside her, that she was worthless. And I can see the fear in Mina’s eyes sometimes, wondering if those words are true.

But they’re not. And we will do everything in our power to convince her of that. She doesn’t know it yet, but we’re not done with her—not by a long shot. I just hope she won’t give up on us before we can show her what she means to us.

Chapter 13

Mina

Iknow the moment the twins get home from school. Doors bang, and loud voices echo all the way up to my room.

“Honey, we’re home!” Max calls out, followed by quick footsteps that don’t stop until the twins are standing in my doorway, greeting me with matching smiles.

“There you are! Did you miss me, Sweetheart?” Max asks as he climbs onto my bed beside me, pulling me into one of those side hugs with a kiss to my temple.

“Always,” I reply with a smile as Jasper climbs in on my other side.

“Hi, Angel, did you have a good day?”

“Yeah, I helped Ben with one of his cases,” I say proudly.

“Oh?” Jasper asks, his surprised eyes jumping up to meet Max’s over my head before he looks back down at me and lets his expression relax. Is he surprised I could help him? “That’s good, we missed you at school today,” he says before pressing a kiss to my temple.

I internally groan, wishing they’d kiss me for real, like they did two days ago. I don’t know why they keep holding back, but I have a feeling it’s something to do with the fact that there are two ofthem and one of me. Well, there are actually seven of them if I am being a hundred percent honest with myself. Just because I haven’t kissed all of them, doesn’t mean I don’t want to.

And therein lies my problem. I don’t know how to choose between any of them. I hoped that by living with them, and getting to know them better, it would become obvious if one of them was interested in me as more than a friend. The problem is, I’m getting the tingles from all seven of my housemates. I could imagine myself being with any one of them, each of them is so different and gives me something I didn’t know I needed.

How am I supposed to choose? That’s assuming I have to, they might just be having fun and not want anything serious. Would I be okay with that? Considering everything that’s happened to me, I might not be ready for a relationship, anyway.

Kissing them is one thing… one very fun thing… but that doesn’t mean I’m ready for more. And maybe they know that, and it’s why they aren’t pushing me. It could be their way of helping me heal. But Dom’s words from two nights ago are playing on repeat in my head.

You’re our everything.

“What are we doing tonight?” Jasper asks, bringing my attention back to the two handsome men currently sitting beside me, holding my hands like it’s the most natural trying in the world.

“Please, anything but watching tv, I’m so bored,” I say, all but begging.

“Okay, how about a game?” Max suggests.

“Yes!” I say excitedly.

“Okay, what shall we play? Monopoly? Candyland…”

“Truth or dare!” I blurt out, remembering the first game we played over texts.

Immediately, my face heats as my eyes widen.I can’t believe I just said that!

Max quickly turns his head to look at me in surprise, then a smile spreads across his face. “Why, Sweetheart, you wouldn’thappen to be wanting a repeat of the last time we played, would you?” he asks, his voice taking on a low timber.

I swallow the lump that’s suddenly appeared in my throat as I avoid eye contact with him. My face is so hot, I must look like a tomato right now. “I… I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, playing ignorant.