Page 52 of Shattered Silence Duet

I think about my list of ways to flirt and wonder if it’s weird to flirt when they’re both here. But they do things on the list in front of each other all the time, so I don’t see why not. I turn to look at Max in the eyes and give him a smile while biting my lip.

“Hi,” he says breathlessly, staring at my face.

I lightly stroke my finger down his arm, then look back up at him. He stares into my eyes like he’s trying to figure out what I’m doing. Then his eyes narrow.

I watch his eyes shift down to watch my hand moving up and down his arm softly, then to my other hand clutching my phone. A smile tugs at his lips, and before I know it, he snatches the phone from me. I try to grab it back, but he holds it out of my reach effortlessly, opening it up and flipping to the web browser.

“What are you looking at on your phone, Mina? Hmm? Let’s see here… How to know if he’s into you.” My eyes go wide with embarrassment and his eyebrows shoot up in surprise. I cover my face, feeling mortified, and he continues reading. “And what’s this? How to flirt with guys.”

I peek out between my fingers and see a huge grin split his face as he turns to look at me.

“Oh, Mina… what have you been reading?” he asks teasingly.

I bury my heated face with both hands, but not fast enough before he sees me turn beet red. He laughs, and I internally groan.

Max puts his arm gently around my shoulder, gently pulling me toward him.

“Tell me, Mina, Sweetheart, were you trying to flirt with me?” he asks teasingly. This is not going the way I thought it would. Why didn’t they warn me about the dangers of leaving browsers open on your phone for anyone to read?

I shake my head, but he tsks. “Hey now, no lying. We’re friends, right?”

I peek up at him and nod my head.

“Good,” he says, smiling back at me. “Cause friends don’t lie. Can you tell me why you wanted to flirt with me?”

I think for a moment.Why?Why was I flirting with them? I… I have no idea how to answer that, so I shake my head.

“Hmmm… okay,” he says, his tone playful. “Do you know what the purpose of flirting is?”

I sit up a little, letting go of my face, and look him in the eyes, curious about the answer. I shake my head again.

A smile covers his face, and then Jasper answers for us. “It’s to show someone you’re interested in them… as more than a friend.” My eyes widen as I stare at him. Is that what I was doing? Showing them I wanted more than a friendship from them? But I couldn’t have that with both of them. But they were clearly both flirting with me. I hadn’t really thought about what would happen next.

“So, now you know,” Max says, voice low, “if you flirt with someone, they’ll think you want something more with them.”

That feels like an invitation, so I don’t stop myself from gently trailing my finger up and down his thigh. This time, it’shiseyes that widen.

I watch as he swallows nervously, looking unsure about his next step. His eyes dip to my lips and my breath hitches. Is he going to kiss me? I lick my lips nervously and his eyes dart up to mine.

Slowly, he reaches out and holds my face gently between hislarge hands. His thumbs graze over my cheeks and he starts to lean forward.This is it! This is going to be my first kiss, and it’s with Max!

My eyes close as I lean towards him, he moves my head a little, then I feel his lips… on my cheek. My eyes open in surprise and a little disappointment. When he pulls back, he gives me an apologetic smile that brings a flush of embarrassment to my cheeks. I quickly turn to face the front, unsure what to make of that.

Is he not interested in me as more than a friend? Maybe he never expected his flirting to go anywhere. But why would they tell me that you flirt with someone if you want to build that relationship if it’s not what they want with me?

I glance at Jasper out of the side of my eye and watch as his hands flex and tighten on the steering wheel, like something is on his mind. Oh, maybehe’sthe one who wants something more with me, and Max didn’t want to get in the way. I mean, I would be beyond flattered if either twin wanted something more with me, but I don’t think I could actually choose between them. They were both so different. Besides, I’m not in a place to build anything with anybody right now, so it’s for the best that Max didn’t kiss me.Liar.

I need to figure out a way to get out of my house before Simon returns. Could I tell the guys about him? Atlas said I could always go to him for help. But when he learns the truth, that it’s my fault my family fell apart, what Jeff and my mother’s other boyfriends have done to me, and what I caused my own brother to do to me, I don’t think he’d be able to stand looking at me anymore. I can barely stand to look at myself in the mirror.

As soon as I arrive at school, something feels off. The students seem quieter, and there are a lot of whispers. Nobody is really looking at us though, so I don’t think it’s anything to do with me.I grip the twins’ hands tighter where I’m sandwiched between them. We—Max and I—get settled in math class and I decide to ask him about it and pull out my phone to type out a text to him.

Me: Why is everyone acting weird?

I see him read the message, and he seems a little nervous. He looks over at me, trying to read my face.

“You don’t know?”

I shake my head.