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

say anything. He just

eyes.

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

get, Aiden throwing random snacks into the cart, Jake scolding him like he's a child,

far from me.

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 when I catch it, he just leans in

ask.

to thank

four of us cook together, and for a little

little while.

I almost forget.

them to bake. He grabs

mine, and I'm laughing so

at the table, watching with an amused

quiet. His expression unreadable,

me.

twirl in Aiden's arms, I feel Zaid's gaze on me. He hasn't pushed, hasn't brought up

feel suffocated, but it doesn't.

me

2/4

Breathe

Jake steps behind me,

"You know we have

I chuckle. "Clean?"

against my

It helps me clear my

tosses it

him. "I can help you clear

mouth as

My eyes drift over his

hands on Jake's shoulders. "I

room

tonight."

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

out too late," Jake says. He

his arms. He tucks my hair behind my ears and kisses

a peck and then it's just Zaid