Page 195 of Shattered Silence Duet

“Yeah, right here,” she says, grabbing a jacket I had somehow missed her holding, but was now on the floor at our feet. I smile, knowing that my kiss had made her drop it.

I take it from her and move behind her, helping her into it. Once it’s on, I tie the belt around her waist, then take her hand.

“Alright, let’s go to dinner, shall we?”

We haven’t even ordered yet and I’m kicking myself for my choice. The restaurant is so fancy that Mina looks uncomfortable here, with the multiple forks, cloth tablecloths and live pianist.

“I’m sorry, Mina. I knew nobody had taken you to dinner yet, so I wanted to take you somewhere really nice.”

“Oh, that’s okay, I don’t mind it here,” she says, obviously lying to make me feel better.

“Mina, give me your hand,” I say, laying my hand across the table, palm up. She places hers in mine and I squeeze it before speaking. “I want you to be comfortable. If you aren’t comfortable here, we can go somewhere you are.”

“You like it here though, right?”

“I enjoy their food, yes, but?—”

“Then we stay. I want to try something that you enjoy, Gideon.”

I frown at her, not sure how to argue with her anymore. I just want her to be comfortable. She smiles at me as she pulls her hand back and resumes looking at the menu.

I stare at her for a minute before asking, “does anything look good to you? Or would you like me to order a few things for us?”

“Oh, really? I’d love that. I haven’t had anything on here before, I don’t know what to order.”

“I got you, Love. What about a drink? Would you like a glass of wine or a cocktail or something?”

“Can I have whatever you’re having?” she asks me shyly.

“Of course, but you have to be honest if you don’t like it, and we’ll get you something else.”

“I will.”

The waiter comes over and I order for us while Mina looks at me with a soft smile on her lips. After he leaves, she sighs. “What’s wrong? Are you not enjoying yourself, Love?”

“It’s not that, I was just thinking that I like being able to look at you, but you feel so far away on the other side of the booth. I guess I’m just used to being so close to you guys lately,” she says with a shrug. “It’s dumb.”

“It’s not dumb. And it’s something I can easily fix,” I tell her as I climb out of the booth. “Scoot over, then,” I tell her as I move to sit beside her.

“Hmm… Yes, I like this. Now you’re trapped in here and can’t run away from me,” I tell her, threading my fingers with hers.

“You thought that was a possibility before?”

“I don’t know, spending one-on-one time with me, you might realize I’m kind of boring. You might want to run back home to one of your more exciting boyfriends.” I try to say it in a lighthearted tone, but my worry comes through.

“Gideon… You don’t really believe that, do you?” I lick my lips as I consider lying to her. “Tell me the truth. You and me, we don’t lie to each other, not anymore, right?”

I give her a nod before replying. “Sometimes I worry about that, yes. I think you’re gonna wake up one day and realize you don’t need me.”

“Gideon,” she says, grabbing my hands and turning us more towards each other. “I have not been doing my job as your girlfriend if you don’t realize how much you mean to me. You’re my rock. You’ve been there since my first day of school, you were the first person I met who was kind to me, who saw me. We might have had a slower start than the others, but it doesn’t mean I love you any less. You aremine, Gideon, and I’m yours. I love you.

“How did I get so lucky to have a woman as amazing as you—love me?” She gives me a shrug and I lean in close. “I love you, too,” I whisper before selling my lips to hers.

“Oh my goodness, Gideon!” she says, laughing right before I spin her around and dip her backwards. Pulling her back up, I grab her hips, pulling her against me as we sway back and forth to the beat of the music. “I had no idea dancing was so fun!” she says with a huge smile.

The restaurant I had chosen was located in a hotel, which happened to also have a pretty decent bar that had a bit of a dance scene on Saturday nights, which is where we found ourselves after dinner.

The music starts to change songs and Mina pulls me down to talk in my ear so I can hear her over the roar of the music. “My feet are sore!” she yells. I immediately bend down and lift her up bridal style and head for the bar to settle up my tab. We both had an additional two glasses of wine, which Mina learned she loved.