Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 226

Somewhere Else-2

I nod slowly, careful with my expression. "Yeah."

He lets me go then leans against the counter, arms crossed, studying me. "And you? How are you feeling about everything?"

My stomach tightens. "I'm fine."

It's a lie. I know it, but I smile anyway and go back to covering the vegetables in olive oil.

We finish making dinner, mostly in silence. The clinks of silverware and the simmering

pot fill the space where words should go. When we sit down to eat, I try again.

"How's everything going?" I ask, spearing a piece of roasted zucchini.

Jake sighs, the sound is heavy and tired. "The board's pushing me to step down. Sell my

shares. The stock's tanked since the story broke."

I freeze mid-bite. "Jake, I'm so sorry."

He waves it off with a bitter twist of his mouth. "It's my fault. I don't lose all of my money, so I can't complain."

I don't have anything to say to that, my eyes going to the hallways that leads to the

wondering when Zaid will

the soap bubble around our

of memories cross my mind,

was so easy to drown the noise and the grief getting lost in their arms and in their kisses.

things feel

and head upstairs. The bedroom light is warm and Jake's

is exactly how I left it, and my journal sits right at the center of it. Jake picks it up before I can stop him,

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Somewhere Else-2

plucking it

raised. "My apologies,

ready for bed. He brushes his teeth while I tie my hair up. His cologne hangs in the air, and I blink a few times at the bathroom mirror, unsure what I'm looking

I feel off.

it been here?" he asks when we climb under the

Zaid."

that. I settle into the pillow, tucking the blanket

father's sister."

turns his head toward me, a frown on his face. “I didn't think therapy

either,

hums, noncommittal, then adds, "Didn't realize you had family here

at that. Zaid knew. He

I don't need

his fingers tracing a path up my arm. His touch