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

it fear? Anger? Anxiety?

with a sharp twist of his wrist, shoves it into park harder than he needs to. He exhales through

reach out without thinking, placing my hand on his thigh. He stiffens

leave my hand there, trying to be

in the lobby

might help him a little,

make me feel better knowing you're

something stricken in his eyes. Something hollow and aching. But after a

do that,"

out. His hand finds mine as we walk toward the building, his fingers sliding between mine without asking. His grip is warm and strong, and I don't pull away. I

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

he stays seated, his elbows braced on his

rocks back and forth.

room is cold, but the OBGYN is nice enough. I

Not pregnant.

are a

me something

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Want to Be

those words are a

starting to blur,

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

His voice cuts through the noise in my head, but it's muted, like he's

only shake

tight around my waist, and he's

me upright.

door shuts 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

happens. Then he lets out a slow breath and reaches for me, his hand finding the back of my neck as he pulls me toward him. His

of my head.

sit like that

No words.

Just breathing.