Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

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.

to Zoe

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

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

to agree

whiskey. "Honestly? I think it was all

on my wine, laughing.

smacks

here is invited to the wedding, by the way. I'll send

soon. It'll be

a chorus of excited questions and half-

Zaid squeezes my knee.

go get dessert ready," I say, pushing

into the kitchen and start arranging slices of pie onto plates, I hear soft footsteps behind me. I turn and see Zoe walking in, towering

confident smile.

asks, already

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

counter before looking at me with intent, like there's more she came in

I blink. "With me?"

gives me a smile that's warm but careful.

ended amicably. That you were always in

nod, smiling softly, not able to stop the heat

there to be

"I really don't want anything weird between us either. I want Aiden to be happy. And

lip, her smile turning shy for the first time.

it's

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been three months, and maybe that's fast, but,I don't know. It feels

that

weird?"

laugh, relaxing immediately. "Not even

exactly about how we used to date, but I'll leave that up to him. All I'm happy about is that there is some truth made