Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina) novel Chapter 239

Chapter 239

Time slips by in quiet routines that turn into our normal. The days are soft, happy. It makes me forget all the other things happening around us.

Therapy gets easier, and then harder. It’s like a roller coaster, depending on what new trauma Cami wants to crack open in our sessions. I settle for going to her once a week and I never miss it, never cancel it.

I find myself waking up in Zaid’s bed more often than not. Listening to him breathe, to the beat of his heart, is the best way to ward off the nightmares, and to make sure I sleep

enough to function.

The mornings are still. I usually go into the art room first thing and open the curtains wide to let the light spill into the room. I never stop being amazed at the sight. I never stop feeling emotional when I step inside and feel loved for being known so well.

I never stop thanking him for it.

Actually, I forced him to move his desk in here last week. He fought me for a full day until I physically dragged his laptop and wires in here and dared him to stop me.

He usually sits across from me while I paint, headphones on, lost in lines of code or whatever it is that makes him mutter under his breath and rake his fingers through his

hair. Sometimes we don’t speak for hours, just exist in the same space.

And that’s enough.

We haven’t had sex again.

It’s not some decision we made or boundary we set, it’s just something unspoken. Right now, we’re focused. On ourselves. On healing. But still, there are nights when I climb into his bed without a word, and he opens his arms like he was waiting for me.

And I sleep better than I ever have,

Today, after breakfast, we went shopping.

Elena came with us, as she insisted on buying me new clothes for our trip. I don’t have the heart to tell her that I haven’t made up my mind yet. Zaid is insisting I go, so I

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Chapter 239

haven’t really told him about my doubts either.

I don’t want to leave him.

Zaid follows us around the stores and pretends to care about suitcase sizes but then gets very serious about which ones have the most compartments. I try not to laugh.

Later, we go out for dinner, just the two of us. A little place with string lights on the patio

and candles on the table.

I twirl my fork in my pasta and glance at him over the rim of my glass. “How’s school

been? And work?”

Zaid leans back in his chair and sighs. “I’m ready to be done with senior year, I’m sure you are, too. Just a few more weeks of classes, but it feels like forever.”

“Yeah, but I bet it’s worst for you. You would’ve been done last year. But you’re almost there,” I smile.

“Yeah.” He shrugs, pushing food around on his plate. “And work, well, I’m tired of the company I’m with. I don’t know, it’s not bad, I’m just not growing there anymore. I’ve been thinking about looking for something new.”

I smile. “Why don’t you just start your own?”

He looks up sharply, surprised. “My own company?”

“Why not? You could do something incredible. You’re smart and-”

I catch him looking at me with a smile growing on his face. “I’m smart?”

I chew on my lip so that I don’t laugh and nod.

He lets out a breath, serious once again. “You think so?”

I nod, meaning every word. “Completely.”

We fall quiet again. I take a sip of my water and trace the edge of my plate with my fingertip. “Aiden’s coming in a few weeks,” I say casually, watching him closely.

Zaid glances up and nods, not missing a beat. “I know. I’m happy. I’ve missed him.”

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