Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 172

Don't Want to Be Alone

I'm chewing on my bottom lip as I watch the lights and street signs pass overhead.

The ride is quiet, so quiet that I can hear my own breathing,

Every tick of the turn signal, every shuffle of clothing grates against my ears like it's too loud. Zaid's hands have a tight hold on the wheel. I watch at his knuckles turn white, watch the way his jaw flexes every time we hit a red light.

The tension increases with every second, and he clears his throat before he finally speaks.

"Jace finally has a girlfriend," he says out of nowhere. His voice scratchy, rough like he hasn't used it in days.

I blink, startled, and turn to look at him.

Jace?

We've never talked about Jace. I mean, I know who he is. I've met him and talke to him before. But why is he bringing him up now?

I have to hold in my laugh, stop myself from asking him why we're talking about Jace. I give him something because I can tell he's grasping for normal. For small talk that doesn't exist right now.

"Oh, yeah? That's good for him, I guess."

Zaid nods, once and sharp. His leg bounces a little, the only sign of his fraying patience, his nerves. "Yeah."

It's all he says. I don't think he knows what he's saying at this point.

I almost laugh. Almost.

The comment is so far out of left field, I can't believe he's trying this hard to just talk to

1. me.

We fall quiet again; it makes me press my hand to my stomach, even though I already feel sick enough. I focus on breathing. Zaid keeps driving, but the closer we get, the more rigid

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Don't Want to Be Alone

becomes. By the time we pull into the parking lot, he's

it fear? Anger? Anxiety?

wrist, shoves it into park harder than he needs to. He exhales

my hand on his thigh. He stiffens

hand there, trying to be

in the lobby for me?"

think it might help him a little,

feel better

in his eyes. Something hollow and

can do that,"

heavy. In and out. His hand finds mine as we walk toward the building, his fingers sliding between mine without asking.

forms with shaking hands. Zaid hovers just a few feet away. His eyes stay on me, even when I sit down again. They call my

he stays seated, his elbows braced on his

rocks back and forth.

the back. The exam room is cold, but the OBGYN is nice enough. I get checked out. They ask me questions. Take samples. And then they tell me the news I was waiting to

Not pregnant.

words are a

me

2/4

to Be

words

to blur,

to the lobby, my vision has turned hazy around the edges. I take two steps before my knees buckle.

through the noise in my head, but it's

only shake my

walks me to the car, his hand tight around my waist, and he's the only thing

me upright.

and the quiet swallows us, I close my eyes and breathe. I focus on that. In. Out. Until my pulse slows

I tell him, my voice

and reaches for me, his hand finding the back of my neck

of my head.

sit like that for a

No words.

Just breathing.