Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 80

The Equation

| wake up with a heavy weight still in my chest, but it's accompanied with the warmth of Jake beside me.

His hand is splayed on my stomach and his lips pepper light kisses down my neck. Such a soft and gentle way to

wake up compared to the storm brewing inside me.

He's a comfort | never knew | needed.

| can't imagine not having this, not having him to turn to. The way he makesfeel safe, understood, and, if I'm

honest, wanted. But it's more than that. | can't stop replaying the way he looked atlast night, the quiet plea

in his voice when he askedto stay.

How happy, although conflicted, it madefeel to hear those words from him.

| sit up carefully, and he stops kissing me, his fingers holding ontolike | would disappear. "Where are you

going?"

| chuckle through my nostrils and run my hand through his hair. "I have to go, Jake. |

can't be in here."

He thinks about it for a second before reluctantly lettinggo.

"Thank you for last night," | whisper.

"Are you going to think about what | said?"

| look down at the sheets. "I won't be with you in secret, behind his back."

Jake looks away fromfor a second. "Then we'll tell him."

My heart jolts in my chest. "No. Not now."

He turns to me, eye dark and serious. "But we will? Eventually?"

"I have to think about it."

He frowns at me, as if for the first time, thinking that | might not want him. Of course |

know that's not true.

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The Equation

| can't imagine not kissing Jake, not holding him, not wanting him. But his

suggestion that we be together in secret is out of the question.

How could | do that to Aiden? | can't. | won't. But can | break up with him? | can't imagine him wanting to share

me.

My heart clenches at the thought. And then there's Zaid.

Zaid, with the way he kissed me, like he was pouring every ounce of emotion into me, igniting something in me

that | didn't even know was there. The way he madefeel alive hadquestioning everything about what |

was doing with Aiden and what I really

wanted.

| make my way to my room and change really quickly. | head to the bathroom where | get

ready for the day and numbly walk to the living room.

My thoughts are interrupted by the sound of Aiden's voice. "Alina?"

| startle, looking toward the hallway. Aiden is standing there with his hands shoved into his pockets. "Do you

want to grab scoffee? | think we need to talk."

My heart stumbles in my chest. | nod, brushing my hair back nervously as | follow him

out,

The coffee shop is small and cozy. Aiden orders for us and we find a quiet loveseat tucked

into the corner.

| sip my latte; the warmth doing little to settle the chill of nerves running through

me. Aiden's hands rest on his knees, fidgeting slightly. He looks at me, his amber eyes

searching mine.

"| talked to Zaid," he says finally.

| know that, but still, the words land like a stone in my chest. My heart hammers, the muffled voices around us

fading into static. I lean forward instinctively, hanging on his

every word despite the overwhelming urge to run.

Aiden's hand drops to my knee, squeezing it affectionately. He exhales deeply, his jaw tightening before he

continues. "We agreed to try to be better brothers."

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The Equation

Relief washes over me, and | smile, cupping his face with one hand. My thumb brushes his cheek, the familiar

gesture grounding me. "That's great."

But Aiden doesn't return the smile. He looks conflicted, his lips parting slightly as if

to speak, then closing again.

His apprehension has my anxiety skyrocketing. "What's wrong?"

He clears his throat. "Do you like Zaid?"

My breath catches, my stomach twisting. This is it. The moment to be honest. | can't lie

to him.

It would be a betrayal for both of them, and | couldn't do that.

I nod, barely, but it's enough.

Aiden flinches, his hand retreating from my knee as his expression tightens with hurt. He leans back, putting

space between us, but | quickly set my coffee down and reach for him,

cupping his face again.

"Don't pull away," | whisper.

He exhales shakily, his hands trembling as they cto rest on mine. He

swallows, his voice thick. "Zaid toldhe has feelings for you."

My heart swells, emotions rushing throughin a flood | can't contain. A smile

breaks across my face, wide and uncontrollable.

He has feelings for me?

Aiden notices. He sees the joy, the warmth | can't hide, and he shifts uncomfortably. "Do

you want to be with him?"

| nod again, my heart racing as the truth spills from me.

Aiden's jaw tightens, his breathing shallow. | can tell he wants to pull away, but |

don't let him. | keep him in place with my hands on his cheeks.

"| want to be with you, too, Aiden."

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The Equation

His eyes study me, and he frowns slightly. "What?"

| chew on my lip, not sure how to have this conversation. "I like you, too. | want to

be

with you, too."

"What does that mean?" he asks, his voice quieter now, almost broken.

| close my eyes for a moment, feeling the weight of his question. But | don't have the words to explain. Not yet.

| shrug and pull away to take a sip of my coffee. "I don't think | know exactly, yet."

His eyes wander the expanse of my chest. "You want to be with the both of us?"

He sounds like he doesn't believe me, and what am | supposed to do when | tell him | want to add his father to

that equation?