Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 210

Letting Go of the Noise

The shower doesn't help.

I stay under the hot spray until my fingers wrinkle, until the smell of chili and french fries is long gone. My skin is pink from the hot water, but my nerves are still on fire. My heart hasn't stopped hammering in my chest, regardless of how much I try to calm my

breathing.

The shame won't rinse off. The cruel words still echo loud in my ears.

Whore. Slut. Desperate.

I tug on a clean set of pajamas and twist my wet hair into a towel. I'm so tired, but I know

I won't be able to sleep like this. Not with my chest feeling like it's full of shattered glass. Not with my stomach still turning.

Might as well get my stupid ice cream.

I make my way down the hallway quietly, heading to the kitchen. The house is mostly dark, but Zaid has turned on the warm under cabinet lights, casting a soft golden glow across the counters.

Zaid's sitting at the island, hunched over his sandwich. He hasn't taken a bite, he's sort of just staring at it.

His eyes lift when I walk in, and I don't miss the way they flick down my body in a slow, heated, lingering gaze. It's just a second too long.

I feel it like a spark against my skin. But then he blinks, clears his throat, and pushes back his stool, standing up. I'm left with my stomach tightening and my breath shallow.

He walks over to the fridge, opening the freezer and reaches into it. "Are you going to tell me what happened?"

He pulls out the dented pint of ice cream and grabs a spoon without needing to ask me.

I sit on a stool with a sigh, resting my elbows on the counter. "Sadie happened." He pauses. His jaw ticks.

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Letting Go of the Noise

"Of course she did," he mutters, opening the cabinet for a bowl. "She's a bitch."

his voice makes me bristle, sending my skin

leans his head back against the cabinet like the weight of everything suddenly hits him. "I'm sorry, you know? For everything. For taking her to the rehearsal dinner.

He's apologized for it

it's not

about Sadie,"

away. Just gives me the bowl and sits down beside

for a minute. His strong profile,

just behind his ear that I know by heart. The one I used

than ice cream. More than late night

trying to push the ache

ask,

chewing. His eyes flick to mine, and

at all since, umm," he says,

finish the

He doesn't have to.

exactly

And it hurts.

his sandwich, he still doesn't get up. I finish the last spoonful of ice cream slowly, letting my spoon

2/4

Go of

sink, rinsing my bowl.

to

find the courage to life my eyes to

you," I whisper, before slipping out of the

footsteps are light on the stairs, the house hushed

slip inside, the door clicking shut

toward my side of the bed, chest rising and falling

covers and slide in beside him, careful not

his arm, gently pulling it back around my

of him. Just the touch of

soon as his arm drapes around

voice groggy and

I whisper, stroking his forearm. "Go back to