Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

But Jake? He's been swallowed whole by work. I've been thinking about him so much, to the point where I'm

thinking of reinstating the phobia chants in my head. Even when I'm laughing with Aiden or tangled up with Zaid,

Jake is on my mind.

I miss him.

It's starting the feel like it did when | forced myself to stay away from him.

The board is pushing him to také legal action against his late CFO's family. They want repayment. They want

blood. But Jake doesn't. And it's been draining him to be the only one against it.

Even if he is the founder and owner, he has the board top answer to.

So for the past week, I've only received little notes from him. His handwriting is terrible, but | cherish the small

apologies scribbled onto the expensive cardstock. Even more so when they are tucked between the petals of the

flowers he sends

me.

My room is filled with them, vases on my nightstand, my dresser, my windowsill. They're beautiful.

But I miss him. | want him, not flowers.

| sit on the edge of my bed, staring at the bouquet he sent this morning. | make up my mind there and then that

| want to see him. Enough is enough.

| stand up and pull my red dress from the back of my closet. It's short, silky, and just revealing enough to make a

statement. He won't be able to ignore me, regardless of how much work he has piled up.

| pair it with heels, letting them click against the hardwood floor as | make my way

to my

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4:06 pm 11

How Things Were

vanity. A little eyeliner, soft waves in my hair, a hint of gloss on my lips.

Satisfied with how I look, | grab my coat and head for the door.

The moment | step down into the living room, | freeze when | catch Aiden and Zaid walking out of the kitchen

with a load of junk food.

Zaid's body tenses instantly. His dark eyes drag over me, slow and intense, his jaw tightening. He doesn't say a

word, but the way his expression hardens tellsenough.

| shift between my feet, pressing my lips together.

Aiden lets out a low whistle. "Damn, baby," he drawls, his lips tilting into a smirk. "You look sexy."

Heat rushes up my neck, and I lower my gaze, suddenly feeling like I'm caught with my hand in the cookie jar.

| smooth my hands over the fabric of my dress. "Do you think Jake will like it?"

Zaid doesn't respond. Instead, he clenches his jaw, turns on his heel, and walks away. | watch him go, a strange

tightness settling in my chest.

Aiden drops what he has in his arms on the couch and makes his way toward me. He grabs my chin and tilts my

face up toward him, bringing my gaze to his.

"He's gonna love it," he murmurs, brushing his lips over mine in a soft kiss.

My heart is hammering in my chest now, my stomach twisting. "You think so? | haven't seen him and | miss him.

| just want to -"

He tightens his grip onand forces my gaze right back to his. "He's going to love it so much that he'll want to

take it off you the second he sees you."

I roll 'my eyes, but my stomach flutters at his words.

Aiden grins, grabbing his car keys. "Con, I'll drive you."

He keeps his hand on my thigh as he drives and I pick at his knuckles, nervous to bring up

the next conversation.

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How Things Were

"Aiden," | start softly, having to clear my throat when it cracks.

His hand flexes on the wheel. "Yeah?"

| bite my lip, gathering the courage to say what's been weighing on me. "How are

you really feeling about all of this?"

He doesn't look at me, but | see the way his shoulders tense. "What do you mean?"

| let out a quiet sigh. "About us. Aboutbeing with you, Jake, and Zaid."

His fingers tense on my leg, just for a second, and then he puts both hands on the wheel. "It's fine."

His voice strains. | keep my eyes on him, my stomach doing somersaults.

"You said last week how you like being the only one withat school. That it reminds you of old times."

He nods.

"Do you want things to go back to how they were?"

Aiden exhales through his nose, his lips pressing into a thin line. His silence stretches between us. It's

uncomfortable. | place a hand on his thigh for comfort and it seems to draw him from his thoughts.

He sighs and nods. "Is it bad that sometimes | do?"

| swallow hard. | expected that answer, but hearing it out loud still makes my chest

ache.

"I miss when it was just us. When | didn't have to share."

| stare at him, my throat constricting. "Aiden - "

"I know," he cuts in before | can say more, his voice thick with frustration.

| tighten my hand on his thigh.

"I know you love us all. | know you don't want to go back. And | get it, | do." He shakes his head slightly. "But that

doesn't mean | don't miss what we had."

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4:06 pm

How Things Were

A lump forms in my throat. "I know, | get it."

His jaw clenches. Silence falls between us again.

| drop my gaze to my lap, my fingers curling around the fabric of my dress. "Losing any of you would hurt me

deeply. | don't think going back will ever be an option."

He nods, but there's disappointment in his eyes.

| hate this. | hate the thought of him holding onto something that can't be real anymore.

Finally, Aiden sighs, running a hand through his hair. "It's something | have to work on. And get over."

| don't know what to say to that, but | find the words. "I don't want you to feel like you're losing me."

He lets out a small, humorless chuckle. "I know. And that's the problem, Alina. | know | haven't lost you, but it

feels like | have. | just have to learn how to share you."

My chest tightens, and | reach over to plant a kiss on his cheek. Neither of us says anything for the rest of the

drive.

When he pulls up in front of the building, he turns to me, his expression softer

now.

"Good luck," he says, reaching out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

| smile, my fingers curling around the door handle. "Thanks."

With a deep breath, | step out of the car, straighten my dress, and make my way inside.