Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 212

All or Nothing-2

The morning air is warm as I collapse into one of the patio chairs, curling my

knees to my chest. I bite down on the inside of my cheek, willing myself not to cry. The last thing I want is for any of them to come out here and see me like this.

To see how much it's tearing me apart.

The door creaks, and it's Aiden that's making his way toward me.

He doesn't say anything at first. He just walks over, sits beside me, and without

asking, pulls me gently onto his lap. His arms wrap around my waist.

"I'm sorry," he whispers into my hair, his lips brushing my forehead.

I let myself fall into the warmth of him.

"I didn't know he broke up with you," he murmurs.

I shake my head. "It just happened."

"Why?" He tightens his arms around me.

I close my eyes, swallowing against the knot in my throat. "Zaid thinks I'm using

what's going on in my

and I can feel the way his muscles

the middle of something. He asked

said we needed to talk first. That I needed to deal with things

bury myself

doesn't say anything, but I feel the subtle shift in his

he always

didn't want to

and I got upset. I left. And I

that follows is so thick it feels like it's pushing down

what I was doing. I knew it would hurt him. But in

1/3

want to feel."

he's trying to breathe around something sharp. He shifts me just enough that I can see his face. His

he finally speaks, his voice is low.

"You didn't do anything wrong. You

ask why you were upset." He exhales, the sound rough.

My throat tightens.

You use it to hide. You use sex

and my throat and nod. "I think so, but it's not just that. I love you, I

closer. "I know you

grimace. "By breaking

whole. I'm sure being apart from you is tearing