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.

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Breathe

though, he doesn't say anything. He

eyes.

go grocery shopping in the afternoon. The four of us pile into Jake's car, and I let myself get caught up in the

Aiden throwing random snacks into the cart, Jake scolding

far from me.

we stop to grab something from the shelves. Every time I look at him, his gaze is already on me, and when I catch it, he just

ask. Just

to thank him

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

little while.

I almost forget.

the music while we wait for them to bake. He grabs

shoves his hips against mine, and I'm

the table, watching with an

His expression unreadable, his focus

me.

arms, I feel Zaid's gaze on me. He hasn't pushed, hasn't brought up our conversation from earlier, but

suffocated, but it

me

2/4

Breathe

countertop, Jake steps behind me,

know we

I chuckle. "Clean?"

against

mind. It helps

and tosses it in the sink.

me face him. "I can help you clear your

my mouth as he holds me

drift over his shoulder where Zaid and Aiden are

smile softly, placing my hands on Jake's shoulders. "I think I'll sleep alone in

room

tonight."

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

late," Jake says. He lets me go, letting

away, Jake takes me back in his arms. He tucks my hair behind my ears and kisses me softly. Gentle. "Goodnight,

a peck and then it's just Zaid