Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 167

It Might Be Everything

I scoot back and sit cross-legged on my bed, picking at the fraying edge of my blanket

while Nikki just watches me.

There's a soft smile on her lips, like she's trying to decide if she should start this conversation. I'm floating somewhere between exhausted and just empty, trying to keep

my mind focused on the present.

Nikki sighs and tilts her head at me. "You know I called you five times yesterday?"

I blink and look over at her, offering a crooked little smile. "It was fifteen times, actually."

Her eyes widen. "Really?"

I can't help but laugh, but it comes out like a tired sigh.

"Fifteen times?! Are you serious? That's fucking annoying. I get why you didn't

answer

me."

That draws an actual laugh from me. "Did you think I was dead or something?"

"I did!" she says, dramatically slapping her hand over her heart. "I was about two minutes. away from driving over and breaking the door down."

"You wouldn't have made it past the guys, plus I was sleeping all day," I tell her, my voice

soft but teasing.

Her mouth twists into an exaggerated grimace. “I was worried about you."

The corner of my mouth twitches again. I can't help but be grateful she's here, that she

cares enough to check up on me.

She shifts onto the bed, turning so she's fully facing me. "But seriously... are you okay? Yesterday was a lot."

I lower my gaze, studying my hands in my lap. I can feel my shoulders start to tense. "Yeah, I'm better today."

She watches me carefully. "You don't have to pretend with me. If you want to talk about

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It Might Be Everything

it, I'm here."

betraying me. "I don't know.

brows pinch. She shakes her head immediately. "I don't

on? More than just Zaid and

1 freeze.

me, worried. It's like she knows, but isn't aware of how much she can push me. We're friends, well, she's my

other?

somewhere else, floating outside myself, staring at this cracked, complicated version of me, wondering if this is it. If this is my chance to finally be

I exhale slowly.

lot going on," I admit. And then, before I can second-guess myself,

out.

I tell her everything.

stolen moments, the looks, the touches, the feelings I've tried to keep neat and tidy in my head

how I hate the stares because they remind me of Florida,

My chest is heaving a little. I realize I'm

want her to hate me, to think less of me. But I also don't want to feel like

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It Might Be Everything

hanging open. For a long second, she says nothing. And then she stands up abruptly, running

god," she

start shaking

forward fast. "No. No judgment. Well... okay, maybe a little." She gives me a wide-eyed look. "But seriously, girl. Three?! You've got three guys? At the same time?! I thought it was

and bury my face

starts laughing. Loudly. Like full-on belly laughing. "And Jake?! An older man?! What is your

me smile in the middle of the emotions I'm

points a finger at me, nearly doubling over. "I can barely handle one! I don't even know how to text back

pull my pillow over

can probably hear you," I mumble, even

help

beside me.

the pillow to

is a lot." She's

acting like you're going through this,

freaked out yesterday. And threw

I frown.

constant sleeping?

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It Might Be Everything

shifts in my chest. "Wait. What do you

grown another

telling me."

in my chest. "Of telling

shakes her

"Nikki."

hands together. "Do you have pregnancy tests