Chapter 263

Chapter 263

Alina

There's a warmth that settles inside of me when the plates are scraped clean and the wine's been poured for the third time. We're all leaned back in our chairs around the

dining table, tired from turkey and from laughing too much, and full in every sense of the

word.

Zaid's fingers are resting lazily on my knee under the table, his thumb tracing small, absent circles. I glance at him, and he looks relaxed, also completely at peace.

As much as we like having this house to ourselves, having it filled with friends and family

is priceless.

Aiden's arm is slung across the back of Zoe's chair, Elena is swirling her wine with

mischievous smirk, and Noah's pretending not to notice.

"So," Elena says, tipping her head toward Aiden and Zoe. "How did you two meet?"

Aiden gives a soft laugh, scratching the back of his neck. "At school."

Zoe grins. "We had this athlete mixer during orientation week. I play volleyball for UCLA. Aiden was standing with a bunch of basketball guys, trying to look like he wasn't staring

at me."

Aiden groans with a laugh. "I was not staring at you."

"You absolutely were," she teases.

He smiles at her, like she is the light in his eyes. The same way Zaid looks at me.

"He looked so nervous. I had to walk over and introduce myself," she says, rubbing her

hand up and down his thigh.

Zoe like she's the only person in the room.

told, it's all over his face, in the softness of his smile, the way his body leans

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Chapter 263

to Noah, trying to deflect. "What about you, man? How'd

to agree to

whiskey. "Honestly? I think it was

choke on my wine, laughing. "Me?

dramatically and smacks

was just time. And everyone here is invited to

soon. It'll

a chorus of excited

Zaid squeezes my knee.

I say, pushing back from the

I hear soft footsteps behind me. I turn and see Zoe walking in, towering

confident smile.

help?" she asks, already

I say, caught a little off guard. "Can you grab

with intent, like there's more she came in here for. "Actually, I just wanted to check in with

I blink. "With me?"

but careful. "Aiden told

ended amicably. That you were always in love

able to stop the

there to be anything weird between

really don't want anything weird between us either. I want Aiden to be happy. And he looks so happy with you. He like you so much more than he's ever liked

for the first time. "I really like him.

it's

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Chapter 263

maybe that's fast, but,I don't

that

weird?"

laugh, relaxing immediately. "Not even

leave that up to him. All I'm happy about is that there is some truth

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