Secrets of Us: A Forbidden Love Romance
Chapter 245
The scent of grilled corn and charred vegetables still lingers in the , mixing with our laughter bouncing off the walls.
The kitchen’s a mess, the table even worse, crumbs and scattered plates, a few used napkins, and the worn box of a board game that’s seen better days.
We’re gathered around it now, our plates cleared, drinks half finished Aiden leans back in his chair with his arms crossed, grinning like what happened earlier had not in fact happened.
Zaid’s sitting beside him, elbows on the table, eyes full of amusemer as he counts spaces on the board with narrowed eyes. He looks back at his cards and frowns.
I smile to myself as the game continues, watching them get competitive over croissants, taking over a castle.
It’s ridiculous, but I can’t remember the last time I laughed this hard
And it’s not like the hurt is gone. It’s still tucked somewhere deep in my chest, bruised and tender. But right now? With both of them here, smiling, everything feels okay.
“You cheated,” Aiden mutters, pointing a chip shaped like a croissant at Zaid. “You definitely skipped like three squares.”
Zaid raises a brow. “You really think I’d cheat at Croissant Castle?”
Aiden shrugs, smirking. “You cheated at Uno last summer. I haven’t forgotten.”
“I didn’t cheat, I strategized.” Zaid leans back in his chair.
“Oh my god,” I laugh, covering my mouth as I shake my head. They get competitive over the smallest things.
“I’ll be right back, I have to pee,” Aiden says, standing up and stretching. “Try not to sabotage me while I’m gone.”
Zaid salutes him with his cup and waits until he disappears down the hallway before turning to me. His eyes soften the second we’re
alone.
“How are you feeling? We haven’t had a moment alone so that I can check up on you.”
I inhale, readying myself for the change in topic. “I’m sad, but I feel good about how it ended, and that it ended.”
Zaid watches me for a beat longer. “Really?”
I nod.
He gives it another second before he nods. “I moved Aiden’s stuff into my room,‘
19
I blink, the words catching me off guard. For a second I’d forgotten we were supposed to share a bed tonight..
Zaid smiles, like he knows exactly what just went through my head. I’m gonna sleep on the couch. We need to figure out the guest bed situation.”
“You
can sleep with
me,” I offer without thinking,
His smile falters just a touch, not with rejection, but softness. He leans forward and presses a soft kiss to my forehead, lingering there for a moment.
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Chapter 245
*I’d rather stay out here,” he whispers. “Aiden might’ve been thinking about breaking up with you for a while, but he loves you. I don’t wanna throw salt on that wound.”
My throat tightens.
“He’s hurting,” Zaid adds. “And it might take a little time before he’s okay seeing it’s like that.”
I nod, reaching across the table to touch his hand. “I get it. Thank you.”
He squeezes my fingers gently, then lets go just as Aiden comes back into the room.
“You two plotting my downfall?” he jokes, sitting back down.
Zaid leans back, casually again. “I don’t have to plot, I know I’m going to win already.”
“Alright then, let’s see,” Aiden says, grabbing the dice.
And just like that, we fall back into the rhythm of the game.
The clock ticks past midnight before Aiden starts blinking slower, yawning more between his turns.
“I’m tapping out,” he mumbles, rubbing his eyes. “I’m so fucking tired.”
Lfeel the sleepiness playing behind my own eyes and I nod. “Me, too”
Aiden smiles half–heartedly before getting up. “Night, guys.”
“Night,” we both say softly.
He disappears down the hall and up the stairs; the door clicking shut behind him.
“I’m going to get some blankets for you,” I say, needing some time alone to breathe.
-Zaid watches me as I go to the hallway closet and gather the things he will need to sleep on the couch. We clean the table and the kitchen in silence, neither of us pushing for more than what we can give at the moment.
By the time we’re turning off the lights, I’m exhausted.
That night, although Zaid is not by my side, I do sleep. There’s a calm in my heart, an understanding.
The morning after, everything feels quiet. Not heavy. Just still. Aiden is pouring coffee, hair messy and eyes soft, and I’m shuffling. around the kitchen making breakfast and Zaid sits as he watches.
After breakfast, I’m cleaning as they come into the kitchen with car keys in Zaid’s hands.
“We’re thinking of heading into town,” Zaid says.
Aiden tosses a basketball in his hands. “We want to see if we can find a gym and shoot around a little.”
“You wanna come?” Zaid asks, eyes meeting mine.
I chuckle, shaking my head. “No, thank you. I think I want to stay here and paint for a while.”
Aiden nods and heads to the car. Zaid stays behind.
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Chapter 245
He steps closer, his hand finding the small of my back, tugging mently toward him. “You sure?”
“I’m sure.” I lean into him.
His lips brush my forehead, and then they find my lips. My fingers ghze his chest before I pull away, smiling. He lingers a second longer before finally backing away, eyes on mine. “We won’t be long
“I’ll be here,” I say, shrugging with a smile.
I head back upstairs, the scent of paint already calling me. It doesn take long for me to lose track of time, colors bleeding into each other as I let myself focus on the canvas.,
It’s been about an hour when the doorbell rings.
I pause, brush still in my hand, frowning. We’re not expecting anyone. My apron is splattered, fingers smudged with green and white, but I wipe them down on a towel as I make my way downstairs.
When I open the door, the air gets sucked right out of my lungs. I grip the edge of the door, blinking at him.
“Jake?” I say, the name barely making it past my lips. “What, what are you doing here?”
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