Chapter 225

Somewhere Else-1

I reach for the knife to finish cutting the vegetables Zaid started on. I smile to myself, thinking of the way we kissed, thinking about how maybe this is a new start for us.

That we won't be alone anymore. From the way his hands felt on my skin, from the way everything in me screamed this is right, I can't imagine being apart from him anymore.

And then I hear it, a familiar voice. "Alina?"

My body goes cold. It's not excitement that floods me. Not joy. Not even confusion. It's

something duller. A weight I can't explain that settles in my chest like dread.

Footsteps echo through the foyer, and before I can react, Jake is in the kitchen with me.

He smiles, and before I can say a single word, he wraps his arms around me and pulls me

into a kiss. It should feel like home, but it doesn't.

When we pull apart, I can't breathe. My eyes immediately find Zaid. He's still standing by

the kitchen counter. Still here, but looking away. His arms are folded, jaw clenched.

Like it bothers him, like it hurts. Has it always hurt him?

Jake's lips brush down my neck, and I force a laugh. It's awkward, shaky, not quite mine. “Jake, what are you doing here?"

He pulls back, frowning like it should've been obvious. "It's your birthday

wanted to surprise

Of course he did.

feel is the way Zaid won't

our day tomorrow, and

my forehead. "I'm going to set my things upstairs.

absentmindedly. My bedroom is the only one with a

1/3

Somewhere Else-1

not want

gone, I turn to

sorry," I whisper, walking toward

his head, forcing a smile that doesn't reach his eyes. "It's okay. You should

three of us. We

I can be around him right

this," he says, voice raw. He finally looks at me, and the

me.

slowly, swallowing hard. "I get

gives me a soft, pained smile, kissing me at the edge of my

have dinner with me,

smile, genuinely.

my

it."

stare at the spot where he was, where we stood

so warm can feel so cold

vegetables

he walks back into the kitchen, a smile on his face.

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