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.

for the comfort of his embrace. For the moment, I let myself sink into the safety he offers, even as a

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

I nod.

his lips together, and his frown deepens. I ignore the panic

sit there, waiting a

in the silence,

he clears, his

him," he

chew my food slowly,

I needed that. I needed

him, surprised. "Really?" The tense silence all

1. it.

carrying so much anger. At him, at myself. But

It was just pain."

at him, my heart

lifts his eyes to me, the corners of his lips lifting into a soft

hadn't realized

footsteps on the stairs makes my heart leap. I turn toward

I take him in. The messy dark hair, black sweatpants hanging low on his hips, a white t-shirt clinging to the

2/5

Lunch

of bed, but his

him, unable to

doesn't smile back. His gaze stays locked on mine, unchanging,

as he

stretches, heavy. I clear my throat, forcing

us, the wheels

in his jaw ticks

bite.

start planning

freeze, their

cautious.

reservations at a

frown, tilting my

shrugs, avoiding my gaze. Zaid finally speaks, his voice

us can really

at them. "I'll do it.

tense again, their eyes snapping toward me. Aiden drops

swallows the bite he'd just

expression darkens, his

ask, looking between them. "What's

voice barely audible, "We haven't celebrated

mom

passed."