Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina) novel Chapter 176

The Figured it Out

That night, I force myself to slow down, to actually think. Nikki convinced me that it is time to talk to them, and I convince her that I need one more night to process everything.

Tomorrow I will speak to them, open up in ways that I have never opened up before. Ask them questions that will probably make us all question what our future will look like.

I go over every conversation, every moment, trying to make sense of what I feel, of what I

want.

Then, finally, I make a decision. I 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 I dragged in from the dining table.

I want to face them, look at them all as we speak.

I’m so tense that my stomach knots up. I didn’t really eat much of my dinner, nervous about this conversation. My palms are damp, my mouth dry as I lick my lips to try to add

some moisture.

I 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

me warms. His eyes soften, just enough to tell me he’s here, that he’s with me.

It’s enough.

I exhale and finally speak. “I thought I was pregnant.”

1/4

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, I really thought I 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, I let out a small, breathy laugh. “Yeah. I know how you feel. I don’t exactly feel ready to be a mother.”

Then, as if realizing something at the same time, both Jake and Aiden turn to Zaid. He

“I asked him not to tell you guys. And I didn’t want to go to the doctor’s alone-”

“Wait,” Aiden interrupts. At the same time. Jake rears back, turning to me with a pale face and blinking eyes.

Aiden’s eyebrows go to his hairline and Jake looks like he can’t breathe. Something crosses his eyes and I 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?”