Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 136

Breathe

It takes me a good hour to calm down, to stop the sobbing and to dry my face.

There's no hiding the fact that I was crying, though, and the fact that I'll have to explain that to Jake and Aiden makes my stomach turn.

We head back downstairs, Zaid's hand in mine and my coffee in his other hand.

Jake does a double take from where he's making breakfast, his eyes turning angry. "What'd

he do?"

Zaid shakes his head with a scoff.

I make my way to Jake and plant a kiss on his cheek. "Nothing, I promise."

He looks unsure and when I turn to meet Aiden's eyes as he chops fruit; I find him frowning between Zaid and I.

He doesn't ask me anything, so the four of us make breakfast together silently. Zaid

makes new coffee and serves me a fresh, warm mug.

Over breakfast, Jake's sharp gaze lingers on me longer than usual, and Aiden nudges my

shoulder as we wash the dishes together.

"What's up with you?" Aiden asks, his voice light. "You've been quiet. You were crying."

I force a small smile. "I'm fine. I'm just tired."

He nods, but there's a hesitancy to whether he believes me or not.

Jake leans against the counter, arms crossed, eyes scanning me like he's trying to figure out what I'm not saying. "Maybe you need a break from us. You've been spending the night, with one of us every night."

"Yeah, for like two weeks," Aiden adds.

I hum in agreement. It's because they keep the thoughts away, the nightmares and the tears away.

"You're probably exhausted," Jake whispers, running his hand down my arm.

1/4

Breathe

anything. He just watches

eyes.

of us pile into Jake's car, and I let

into the cart, Jake scolding him like he's a child, and Zaid staying quiet but

far from me.

feel the warmth of his hand brush against mine more than once, feel the way his fingers graze my lower back when we stop to grab something from the shelves. Every time I look at him, his gaze is already on me, and

push. Doesn't ask. Just

to thank him

dinner rolls around, the mood is lighter. The four of us cook together, and for a little while, everything feels normal again. The tension inside me

little while.

I almost forget.

cookies, and Aiden turns on the music while we wait for them to bake. He grabs my hand, spinning me around in the kitchen, making me laugh as he

hips against mine, and I'm

the table, watching with an

however, remains quiet. His expression unreadable,

me.

gaze on me. He hasn't pushed, hasn't brought up

but it doesn't.

me

2/4

Breathe

Jake steps behind me,

waist. "You know we have people that

I chuckle. "Clean?"

nods against my

shrug. "I don't mind. It helps me clear

hand and tosses it in the sink. He spins me

face him. "I can

my mouth as he holds me close. When we

My eyes drift over his shoulder where Zaid and Aiden are

smile softly, placing my hands on Jake's shoulders. "I

room

tonight."

his nose, but since I was with him last night, it doesn't bother him much. "Fine. But I'm going

says. He lets me go, letting Aiden kiss me

arms. He tucks my hair behind my

give him a peck and then it's just