Silent Desires (Shattered Silence Duet Book 1)
Silent Desires: Chapter 38

I shove my phone back in my pocket after reading the group message from Dom.

Dom: We have a new theory, she might be in witness protection.

I can’t focus on the basketball game the freshmen are playing, as my mind keeps flashing to the image of Mina passing out in my arms. I have a feeling it’s going to haunt me for a while, at least until I know what caused it and how to fix it. I’m sure she’ll be upset when she wakes up. I hate that I can’t be there to apologize to her and make sure she’s okay.

But at least I know she’s in good hands with my brothers. Another benefit of this potential relationship is that when one of us can’t be there, one of the other’s can. It’s why this could work. Not that we’d had the conversation yet, but I knew it was coming.

Today was the first chance I’ve really had to interact with her outside of school and I want to kick myself for ending it on such a sour note. Now, not only is she just going to view me as her overly friendly teacher, but the one who scared her into passing out. I hope she likes what I picked up for her on my way back to school.

I know relationships take time and effort, but it’s starting to feel like I’m going to be left behind. Even Gideon has been able to spend some one on one time with her in his office last week. There is no use whining about it though, I just need to do my best to replace a way to connect with her.

It’s hard not to constantly think about her, worry about her. The way her sad green eyes move around the gym, watching everyone like they are a potential threat, has me dying to know what’s really going on in her life. Is she really on the run from someone? Witness protection explained everything we knew, but we couldn’t ask her outright about it. They might up and leave without a trace in the middle of the night if they thought they’d be compromised, then we’d never see her again.

I blow my whistle when I see a student going out of bounds. “Alright guys, let’s end it here, I’m letting y’all out ten minutes early today,” I say loud enough for all the students to hear me.

I can’t stand being in this gym one minute longer, I need to see her with my own eyes. Unable to stop myself, I head to my office to wait for her, hoping she’s not too put off by me to show up today. She might be too mad at me to come to class today, but I hope not, she doesn’t seem like someone who would hold a grudge for long.

I sigh as I exit the gym and open my office door. I stop, my eyes widening when I see Mina standing there waiting for me. I shut the door a bit firmer than I mean to, grab her hand, and the gift bag from my desk, and drag her into the bathroom. I want as many barriers as possible between us and the hall for this conversation.

I shut the door and turn to her. She looks confused but, luckily, not scared or mad.

I stare at the green gift bag in my hand and suddenly feel stupid about buying her this present. I just wanted a way to show her I’m sorry, and when I saw it sitting on the shelf, I thought it’d make her happy. But now I worry she’ll think it’s lame. I rub my hand on the back of my neck as I try to think of what to say.

I feel a slight tug on the front of my shirt and turn my head as Mina drops her hand and steps back, but then she holds up her phone to show me what she typed.

Mina: Are you ok?

She’s asking if I’m okay? She’s the one who had a panic attack today, and she’s worried about me? She’s too sweet for the likes of me, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to try to woo her.

I drop my hand from my neck as I smile at her. “Yeah, Sugar. I’m just worried about you. I’m so sorry I upset you earlier. I—” I look down at the bag, trying to replace the right words, but when nothing comes to me, I practically shove the bag at her. “I got you this… as an apology.”

She looks at the bag in surprise and instead of taking it, she types out a response.

Mina: You didn’t have to get me anything, you have nothing to apologize for. I have panic attacks sometimes. You didn’t do anything to trigger it. They are never anyone’s fault but my own. I hate that I caused you to be so sad. Please don’t be upset, cowboy.

I can’t help but laugh at the nickname as I look at her. “Cowboy, hmm?”

Mina: It’s your southern accent. I can picture you in a cowboy hat and boots.

“Is that all I’m wearing in this fantasy of yours, Sugar?” I wiggle my eyebrows at her, and her eyebrows rise to her eyeline in shock. “Umm, sorry, forget I said that,” I say awkwardly, rubbing my neck again. When did I get so terrible at talking to pretty girls?

Realizing I’m still holding the gift bag, I offer it up again. “Please, Mina, I bought this specifically for you, I want you to have it.”

She bites her lips as she eyes it tentatively, and just when I think she’s going to deny me, she reaches out and takes it from me.

I watch nervously as she opens the bag and reaches inside. When she pulls out the small, stuffed black and white cow, her jaw opens in shock. Does she hate it?

She places the gift bag on the floor without taking her eyes off the cow. She holds it in both hands, touching the soft fur with her fingers and staring at it as if she’s never seen a stuffed animal before.

“Do you… like it?” I ask nervously, and her eyes instantly flick up to mine in surprise, like she forgot I was in the room. Before I can ever start to feel upset by that thought, she practically throws herself at me, wrapping her arms around my waist and pressing her cheek into my chest. I instinctively hug her back, relishing in the moment. I guess she likes my gift.

She pulls back and types a message out to me.

Mina: I love him, thank you so much!

I give her a warm smile as the tension fades from me. “Now my nickname seems even more appropriate, hmm?” I ask, thinking it’s funny that she called me cowboy right before I gave her a stuffed cow. She gives me a little nod as she hugs it to her chest, rubbing her face against its soft fur.

“You’ll have to come up with a name for him now, any ideas?” She twists her lips as she looks at it for a moment before shaking her head and looking up at me with a questioning look in her eyes. “You want my help?” She nods her head and I rub my chin in thought.

“How about Moo Moo?” She scrunches her nose and shakes her head.

“Bessie?” She gives me the same reaction.

“Hmm… Milkshake?” She keeps her nose scrunch but tilts her head side to side like she’s considering it, then her eyes light up with an idea. She quickly types it out and shows me the screen.

Mina: TJ.

“Hmm, TJ, huh? Kind of an unusual name for a cow. Does it stand for something?”

She types her response, and when she shows me the screen, I feel my heart leap in my throat.

Mina: Tucker Junior.