Chapter 262
Alina
–
5 Months Later (Thanksgiving)
I smile to myself, closing my eyes for a second as I inhale the smell of better and roasted garlic. I mash the potatoes with a steady rhythm, humming to a song I’ve had stuck in my
head all week.
It doesn’t matter to me that I’m a bit off–key. Zaid is the only one here, and he likes my
humming.
Warm arms wrap around my waist from behind, and I feel his chest press against my back just as his lips find the side of my neck. I lean into him, chuckling when his kisses trail
down slowly.
My skin breaks out in goosebumps, they ripple down my spine despite the warmth in the kitchen. I try to wiggle away from him and the ticklish sensation, but he keeps me locked
in his arms.
“Zaid,” I laugh, “I have to finish the potatoes.”
“Take a break,” He whispers.
I roll my eyes and feel him grin against my skin.
“Turkey’s got another hour. That’s just enough time to sneak upstairs and mess around a
little. Or a lot.”
I turn in his arms to face him, smiling even as I shake my head. His eyes meet mine, rich
and dark, full of everything I still can’t believe is mine. There’s this look he gets, this
quiet, soul–deep way he watches me like he’s falling in love with me all over again. Every day, every time. It never fades. It never dulls.
It’s not new anymore, but somehow, with Zaid, it still feels new. That love doesn’t settle. It doesn’t level off. It stays high, burning in him and in me like it’s just begun.
The part that undoes me is how constant it is, how unwavering his love is.
I rise on my toes and kiss him. When I pull back, I whisper, “We can’t. Aiden’s bringing his new girlfriend, remember? I want to make a good impression.”
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Chapter 262
He frowns a little. “Are you afraid she’s not going to like you?”
I play with the button of his shirt, avoiding his gaze and shrug. “Maybe? I mean, I don’t know how much Aiden has told her about me, but I feel like it would be very easy to hate me. I mean, I would if the roles were reversed.”
He tucks my hair behind my ears. “Give yourself for credit, love. You’re a kind person. Besides, I wouldn’t let her say anything bad about you or to you. Aiden wouldn’t either.”
I think he’s right about that, I trust it. I nod, smiling softly.
“So, does that mean we can sneak upstairs for a bit?”
I shake my head with a smile.
He groans like a man who’s just been denied air. “You’re killing me, Alina.”
I laugh and nudge his chest before turning back to the potatoes. He sighs and heads toward the living room, turning on music that drifts into the kitchen.
I finish the mashed potatoes, add a bit more salt, and just as I’m wiping my hands, Zaid appears again at my side, extending his hand.
“Dance with me,” he says.
I don’t even hesitate. I slip my hand into his, and we sway slowly in the kitchen, the afternoon light spilling in through the windows. His arms wrap around me again, and I rest my head against his chest, feeling his steady heartbeat through his shirt.
These last six months with Zaid have been the kind of perfect I never believed existed. It’s like the rough edges of our lives are just the right shape to hold each other. Everything between us just fell into place.
And when Aiden called to tell us he’d met someone, I’d never heard him sound so happy. Zaid and I were genuinely thrilled. We couldn’t wait to meet her.
I lift my gaze, and Zaid is looking at me. Like loving me isn’t something he’s doing, it’s something he is. And I wonder if he knows that I feel the same. That every time I look at him, I still feel that rush, like we’re at the start even though we’re deep in the middle.
I kiss his chest and let myself melt into the moment until the doorbell rings.
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Chapter 262
Zaid grins and pulls away. “That’s them.”
He walks toward the door, and I take a moment to untie my apron, quickly fluffing my hair and smoothing the front of my sweater. I hear voices, Aiden’s laugh, and a lighter, unfamiliar voice laced with excitement. I head into the foyer just in time to see Aiden hugging Zaid and holding hands with a tall, stunning blonde.
She turns toward me with a smile that’s all sweetness and warmth.
“This is Zoe,” Aiden says, smiling like a proud man. “Zoe, this is Alina.”
Zoe wraps me in a gentle hug that feels real. “It’s so nice to finally meet you, I’ve heard
so much about you.“.
“It’s so nice to meet you, too,” I reply, instantly liking her.
Zaid gestures toward the living room. “Come in, get comfortable. I’ll grab drinks.”
We all settle in, the room filled with soft light, the scent of roasted herbs, and the hum of
jazz still playing in the background. Zaid sits beside me, reaching for my hand and lacing our fingers together. He kisses the side of my head, and I can feel that look on him again,
even without seeing it.
That same look. The one that never goes away. The one that reminds me I’m not just
loved, I’m chosen, again and again.
“Elena and Noah should be here any minute,” I say, turning to Aiden and Zoe.
Aiden lights up. “Fuck yeah. He’s funny. I really like Noah.”
I giggle. “Me too. Especially now that he finally convinced Elena to marry him.”
Laughter bubbles around the room as we sip our drinks and get comfortable around each
other.
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