NovelOnlineChapter 176
The Figured it Out
That night, | force myself to slow down, to actually think. Nikki convincedthat it is tto talk to them, and |
convince her that | need one more night to process everything.
Tomorrow | will speak to them, open up in ways that | have never opened up before. Ask them questions that will
probably make us all question what our future will look like.
| go over every conversation, every moment, trying to make sense of what | feel, of what |
want.
Then, finally, | make a decision. | text our group chat, setting the expectation so we all
know what's needed.
A: Can we all talk after dinner?
J: Sure.
Aiden: Yeah, of course.
Z: Yes.
And just like that, it's set in stone. There's no backing out.
Hours later, we are all sitting in the living room. The guys are sitting beside each other on the couch while I am
on a chair | dragged in from the dining table.
| want to face them, look at them all as we speak.
I'm so tense that my stomach knots up. | didn't really eat much of my dinner, nervous about this conversation.
My palms are damp, my mouth dry as | lick my lips to try to add
smoisture.
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| take a deep breath, searching for something steady, and my eyes find Zaid.
He's watching me, his expression unreadable, but when our gazes meet, everything inside
It's enough.
| exhale and finally speak. "I thought | was pregnant."
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The Figured it Out
The room goes still.
Jake stiffens, his fingers digging into his knees as he keeps his dark eyes on me.
His brows furrow, like he's trying to process.
Aiden's eyes go wide and a hot, red blush crawls up his chest to his neck.
Zaid just watches me, kind eyes and soft lips.
Jake is the first to speak. "You thought you were pregnant?"
I nod. "Yeah. I'm not. But for a few days, | really thought | was."
Jake closes his eyes, letting out a slow breath, like he's releasing an entire mountain of
anxious energy.
Aiden blows out a sharp exhale, running a hand through his hair. "Thank, fuck. Holy shit. I'm way too young to be
a dad."
Despite everything, | let out a small, breathy laugh. “Yeah. | know how you feel. | don't exactly feel ready to be a
mother."
Then, as if realizing something at the stime, both Jake and Aiden turn to Zaid. He
hasn't said a word.
"Why aren't you reacting?" Aiden asks.
Zaid's dark eyes shift toward his brother and father, still not saying a word.
Jake narrows his eyes. "You knew?"
There was pain in his voice, like | had betrayed him, like Zaid had, too. | couldn't let him take all the blame, so |
clear my throat.
"| asked him not to tell you guys. And I didn't want to go to the doctor's alone-"
"Wait," Aiden interrupts. At the stime. Jake rears back, turning towith a pale face and blinking eyes.
"He went to the doctor's with you?" Jake asks, his chest heaving as his breath picks up.
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The Figured it Out
| nod, chewing on my lip, not really knowing why they are reacting like that.
"He drove you? He waited in the car?" Aiden asks, trying to clarify.
| shake my head, frowning. My eyes go to Zaid, who is staring at his lap. "No, um, he waited in the lobby for me."
Aiden's eyebrows go to his hairline and Jake looks like he can't breathe. Something crosses his eyes and | can't
quite place it. It's realization, and hurt, all bundled into one.
Jake stands then, crosses the space between us and squats in front of me, taking my hands into his. "Is that what
you wanted to tell us? That you thought you were pregnant?"
| nod, extremely confused by everyone's reaction.
He leans toward me, kissingsoftly. "I think you need to be with Zaid tonight. We can talk tomorrow?"
| frown but nod, my skin running cold. What is going on?
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When I finish watching Jake leave, | turn to look at Aiden. He's looking at Zaid with a thoughtful expression, and
then he turns to me. He smiles, also standing and reaching for me. He wraps an arm around my waist and pulls
It's soft, but deeper than Jake's.
He pulls away, not saying anything but givinga soft smile. Then, he walks away, leaving Zaid and | alone.
Zaid swallows, and | can see he's struggling, his throat moving.
He shifts in his seat, then stands, closing the space between us. Before | can even question him, his arms wrap
around me, pullingagainst his chest. The warmth of him, the quiet inhale of my scent, the way he presses
his chin against the top of my head, it all feels like he's grounding himself in me.
When he finally pulls away, | don't let him go far. | reach up, cupping his face between my hands, my thumbs
brushing against his cheekbones as | force his dark, unreadable eyes to
meet mine.
"What was that all about?" | ask softly.
His lips barely part before he whispers, "They figured it out."
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The Figured it Out
A frown tugs at my brows. "Figured what out?"
He doesn't answer right away, just offersa small, sad smile before pressing his lips to my forehead. Then,
without a word, he takes my hand and leadsup the stairs. His grip is firm but not forceful, his fingers
interlacing with mine, tyingto him. When we reach his room, he closes the door behind us, leaving me
standing in the middle of his space, confusion and frustration building inside me.
| cross my arms. "They figured what out, Zaid?"
His eyes search mine, endless and pained, his walls crumbling brick by brick until there's nothing left but raw
vulnerability.
"That I'm in love with you."
My heart lurches so violently | feel dizzy. My stomach tightens, my skin prickling with bone deep goosebumps.
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