Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 75

Lunch

The house feels a little too quiet. I cleaned my room, straightened everything in the kitchen and still, neither of the guys has come out of their room.

It makes it hard to breathe, the kind of silence that suffocates.

I stand in the kitchen, staring at the chicken sandwiches I've just finished making.

I set them on plates and place them on the dining table, grabbing some cups and water as well.

It's a simple meal, nothing fancy, but it's something. I'm trying to bridge the gap, to fix

what I feel like I've broken.

I write two small notes, folding them carefully. On Zaid's, I write, Join me for

lunch? On Aiden's, I keep it the same but add a little heart at the end. It feels silly, but I slip the notes under their doors, hoping it's enough to draw them out.

I feel like I'm back in middle school, blushing as I hand a note to my crush.

Back in the dining room, I finish setting everything up, arranging the plates and glasses

on the table.

Once I sit down, I cross my arms on my chest and a sour pain explodes in my chest. My

stomach churns and the anticipation is getting to me.

I don't know if this will work; I don't know if they will even get out of their rooms, but I

have to try.

I hear a door open, and my heart skips and it's Aiden who steps off the stairs and walks

1. in.

"Hey," he says softly, smiling at me.

"Hey." I try not to let my disappointment show, but it's there, a little pang in my chest. I was hoping for Zaid. My heart had been hoping for Zaid.

I don't know how that realization makes me feel.

Aiden walks over, his expression gentle. He cups my face with both hands, his touch warm and familiar, and presses a soft, tentative kiss to my lips.

1/5

Lunch

"Thanks for lunch," he murmurs, his thumbs brushing my cheeks.

myself

frowning for a second before he looks at me. "Did you make some for

I nod.

his frown deepens. I ignore the panic that rises inside me from

there, waiting a few

loudly in the silence, and finally, I sigh. "We

eat, he clears, his throat,

to talk to him,"

chew my food

I needed that. I needed to say

him, surprised. "Really?" The tense

1. it.

so much anger. At him, at

It was just pain."

blink at him, my heart

of his lips lifting into a soft smile.

hadn't

can respond, the sound of footsteps on the

low on his hips, a white t-shirt clinging to

2/5

Lunch

like he's just rolled out of bed, but his

him, unable to help

back. His gaze stays locked on mine, unchanging,

at Aiden as he walks over and takes a

clear my throat,

the two of us, the wheels in his

sandwich and the muscle in his jaw ticks as

bite.

need to start planning for

their sandwiches

to speak, his tone cautious. "Dad will be home by then.

reservations at a restaurant or

my

finally

us can

staring at them. "I'll do it. I can

tense again, their eyes snapping toward me. Aiden drops

and he swallows

expression darkens, his jaw

ask, looking

barely audible, "We haven't celebrated

mom

passed."