Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 23

Stay-1

Our eyes meet, and he coughs, my shock mirrored in his expression. He quickly masks it, but I see it. I see the absolute horror that crosses his features.

My heart feels like it's lodged in my throat, and it takes every ounce of willpower

to keep

my composure.

"Aiden," he says, his voice steady but his eyes betraying his surprise. "Who's this?"

Aiden pulls me in close, wrapping his arm around me in a possessive way, making Jake's eyes rake over me. "This is my friend, Alina."

The way he says it makes me aware that he's telling his dad that I am much more than a

friend.

Jake puts down his half made sandwich and nods toward me, pressing his lips together. "Nice to meet you, Alina."

"Nice to meet you too, Mr. Matthews," I reply, my voice sounding far more composed than

I feel.

The tension in the room is palpable, a heavy, suffocating weight that neither of us acknowledges out loud. Aiden seems blissfully unaware, and I'm so glad he hasn't caught up on the heat in the room.

"I was just going to take Alina home, we'll be right back," Aiden says, leading us toward the front door.

Jake hesitates for a fraction of a second before nodding. "Sure, sounds good."

midway, patting down his pockets. "I forgot my

my arm and runs upstairs before I can say anything. I turn to Jake, oxygen leaving my lungs. He walks toward me and looks determined to say

no I

"Alina-"

1/3

#18 pm

Stay-1

way to the bathroom, his foot stopping

able

I whisper when he pushes

locking it, his chest rising and falling as he looks

“Aiden? Aiden's the guy you've

fuck is going on? I

again, let alone have him

Aiden's father.

lost my virginity to

Jakes grabs my shoulders. "Alina, it's

whisper back, my voice

agreed," he says,

on my chest, I avoid his gaze.

impenetrable, still, like stone. I look up to him

a muscle in his

"Jake."

can't stop thinking

I exhale, "Stop."

this. He will open up a floodgate of