Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 101

A Secret

My heart hammers in my chest as I hear the click of the doorknob. It only takes a second before Zaid's door swings open.

I can feel my breath hitch in my throat and he just stands there, staring at me like

I'm at ghost. His dark eyes flick over me, from my face to my toes.

It's slow, deliberate, hot. His jaw tightens, and I lick my lips as it draws my attention.

"Can I..." I hesitate, my voice quieter than I intended. "Can I spend the night with you?"

He doesn't answer immediately, and I press my lips together, wrapping my arms around myself, suddenly unsure. Should I just walk away?

His frown is slight, but it's there, barely noticeable if I weren't so attuned to him. He watches me for a long second, those dark eyes melting my insides. Then he exhales through his nose and steps aside, pushing the door open wider.

I walk in, feeling the heat of his presence behind me as the door clicks shut. The silence

settles around us is almost too much to bear. He walks around me, toward his bed, where he begins to pick up the books he has scattered across it.

I take in his appearance. His damp hair, the way his grey sweatpants sit low on his hips, the faint sheen of water still clinging to his skin. My gaze drifts lower, tracing the jagged

scars that stretch from his abdomen to his back and over his shoulder blades.

I swallow hard and finally break the silence. "You're upset."

Zaid shrugs, shaking his head.

"You are."

"Why would I be upset?" His voice is flat, carefully neutral.

I hesitate before whispering, "I'm sorry I pulled away from you."

He stiffens, keeping his gaze locked onto the floor.

My fingers tighten around the fabric of my shirt. "I just... I'm not sure I want your father

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A Secret

to know."

his eyes. He huffs out a bitter laugh, shaking

but how am I supposed to answer that? I don't want

good enough for you?" His jaw tightens as

blink at

you afraid of tarnishing your reputation by being

sharply. "No,

His voice is quiet, but there's an

uncertainty and insecurity in his eyes and my chest

it away;

I don't feel like that at all. The pain in his eyes steals

I'm standing, it feels like you're willing to

to have Aiden out

head, feeling my chest tighten. "No, Zaid. No. It's just that -I

his nostrils flaring,

a relationship like this before, with two people. And I

darken. "And what? You think keeping me a secret is the solution?" "I

understand you needing time to be with the both of us out in public. But

This is so much more complicated than he thinks. Part

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spill everything.

hair before looking at me again. "You think my

4 shake my head.

quieter now, but no less intense. "One day, you're

Tell everyone."

Aiden and Zaid will have to know eventually, too. This is all

Zaid can see the fear in my eyes because he flinches. "Do you plan

Only be with me in secret while you walk

words cut deep because I don't want that. I

I want Aiden.

I want Jake.

all

fill my eyes, and that

cups my face, rubbing his thumbs on my cheeks.

lips tremble. "I don't- I don't want to hide

eyes

a normal relationship.” The words come out of me and

my love. We can only choose what we do.

face the judgement of being

but I don't get the chance to