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."

suck in a sharp breath. My knee bounces once, betraying

shakes her head immediately. "I don't think

More than just Zaid and

1 freeze.

knows, but isn't aware of how much she can push me. We're friends, well,

other?

my bed. I'm somewhere else, floating outside myself, staring at this cracked, complicated

I exhale slowly.

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

out.

I tell her everything.

About the stolen moments, the looks, the touches, the feelings I've tried to keep neat and tidy in my head but always end up spilling all over the place. I tell her about the way

the guilt, the confusion, the fear of being judged, and how I hate the stares

I stop talking, I feel like I've finished all the oxygen in the room. My chest is heaving a little. I realize I'm gripping the blanket so tight my knuckles

think less of me. But I also don't want to feel

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It Might Be Everything

second, she says nothing. And then

god,"

My stomach twists as I start shaking

me a wide-eyed look. "But seriously, girl. Three?! You've got three guys? At the same time?! I thought it was a lot with just Zaid and Aiden. But

face in my

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

in the middle of the emotions I'm struggling to keep

over. "I can barely handle one! I don't even know how to text back half the time! You're out here managing three full-ass

pillow

hear

can't help it. Her energy

down beside me.

pillow to look

lot." She's breathing

acting like you're going through this, and not

wonder you freaked out yesterday. And threw up.

I frown.

the constant sleeping?

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It Might Be Everything

my chest. "Wait. What do

like I've grown another head. "I thought this was your way

telling me."

heart hammers in my chest. "Of telling you

shakes her

"Nikki."

her hands together.