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

Of course he did.

but it's thin, because all I can feel is the way Zaid won't look at me. The way the light in his eyes

and

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

absentmindedly. My bedroom is the only one with a bed.

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Somewhere Else-1

not want to share a

moment he's gone,

sorry," I whisper, walking

eyes. "It's okay. You should spend tomorrow with him. We can

three of us. We can

I can be around him

feel about all of this," he says, voice raw. He

me.

nod slowly, swallowing hard. "I get

gives me a soft, pained smile, kissing

dinner with me, right? Elena

smile, genuinely. "Elena,

my

wouldn't miss it." And

the spot where he was, where we stood just minutes ago, and I

something so warm can feel

the vegetables and rinse

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

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