Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina) novel Chapter 23

Stay–1

Our eyes meet, and he coughs, my shock mirrored in his expression. He quickly masks it, but I see it. I see the absolute horror that crosses his features.

My heart feels like it’s lodged in my throat, and it takes every ounce of willpower to keep

my composure.

“Aiden,” he says, his voice steady but his eyes betraying his surprise. “Who’s this?”

Aiden pulls me in close, wrapping his arm around me in a possessive way, making Jake’s eyes rake over me. “This is my friend, Alina.”

The way he says it makes me aware that he’s telling his dad that I am much more than a

friend.

Jake puts down his half made sandwich and nods toward me, pressing his lips together. “Nice to meet you, Alina.”

“Nice to meet you too, Mr. Matthews,” I reply, my voice sounding far more composed than

I feel.

The tension in the room is palpable, a heavy, suffocating weight that neither of us acknowledges out loud. Aiden seems blissfully unaware, and I’m so glad he hasn’t caught up on the heat in the room.

“I was just going to take Alina home, we’ll be right back,” Aiden says, leading us toward the front door.

Jake hesitates for a fraction of a second before nodding. “Sure, sounds good.”

“Ah shit,” Aiden freezes midway, patting down his pockets. “I forgot my wallet upstairs, I’ll go get it real quick.”

He squeezes my arm and runs upstairs before I can say anything. I turn to Jake, oxygen leaving my lungs. He walks toward me and looks determined to say something.

No, no I can’t do this.

“Alina-”

1/3

#18 pm

Stay–1

I walk around him making my way to the bathroom, his foot stopping the door before I’m able to close it.

“Jake,” I whisper when he pushes himself inside.

He stands in front of the door, locking it, his chest rising and falling as he looks me up and down. “Aiden? Aiden’s the guy you’ve been hanging out with?”

I groan, pulling at my hair. What the fuck is going on? I was never supposed to see Jake again, let alone have him be my boyfriend’s father.

Aiden’s father.

I lost my virginity to Aiden’s father.

But Jake doesn’t move. He’s impenetrable, still, like stone. I look up to him in shock and a muscle in his eye twitches.

“Jake.”

I exhale, want igniting just like I knew it would.