Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina) novel Chapter 53

For Now

I sit cross–legged on Aiden’s bed.

My eyes hurt from staying awake all night, but I couldn’t sleep. Not after Aiden dumped all of that on me. I don’t want to miss the moment he wakes up and risk never finishing the conversation he started.

I blink the dryness away and stare out the window where the first morning light begins to slip through the blinds.

I’m lucky the house was empty last night, and Jake didn’t run into me practically hauling his unconsious son to his room.

Aiden is still asleep beside me, his face is peaceful, but he looks incredibly uncomfortable. I took his shoes off, but his jeans and shirt stayed on. His face looks pale and his lips dry.

I know he’s going to have a massive headache when he wakes and that peaceful look on his face will turn into a grimace from the pain.

I play with my fingers, wondering about what it could be that Aiden is hiding. What it is that Zaid knows, and wants me to know too.

It’s torn them apart, and a secret that big pulls at my curiousity. I want to know. I should know, right?

Aiden stirs and my eyes drop to him.

He groans softly, and smacks his lips as he struggles to open his eyes. The moment he

does, though, he turns to me. He’s squinting, dark undercicles above his cheeks.

“Alina?”

I turn from him, reaching for the glass of water and painkillers I’d brought up a few hours ago. I hold them up to him. “Here.”

He groans as he sits up, blinking fast like he’s trying to hold back a wave of nausea.

He takes the glass and pill, muttering, “Thanks.”

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For Now

He downs the water, wincing, and I can’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for him. Being hungover is no fun, and though I haven’t had alcohol since mother turned alcoholic, I still have the memories of long nights with friends and terrible mornings nursing a headache.

“How are you feeling?” I ask, keeping my tone light.

Aiden scoffs, rubbing his temple. “Like I got hit by a truck.”

I give him a small smile, but it fades quickly. “We have to talk about last night.”

He scoffs, shaking his head. “No, we don’t.”

Frustration flares in my chest. “Aiden, you said something about Zaid and your mom. That’s important. We have to talk about it.”

He pauses, then lets out a hollow laugh, shaking his head. “I don’t remember anything from last night, honestly.”

He’s lying. I know he is. He’s avoiding my gaze and that does little to temper the frustration and anger in my chest. I want to grab his face and force him to look at me, but I hold myself back. “You can’t just brush this off.”

He meet my eyes, twisting his lips like he’s trying to decide just how much and what exactly he wants to tell me.

I try to keep my voice steady, to mask the anger. “I know you’re hiding something about the night Zaid got arrested. And I’m not letting it go this time.”

His gaze sharpens, a flash of something unreadable crossing his face. It’s only there for a second, becuase he has to take a moment to breathe the pain of his headache away. “Are you saying you trust Zaid more than you trust me, Alina?”

I clench my fists, fighting the urge to scream.

He makes it a competition, but it’s not. I’m dating him, not Zaid. It’s not like I’m going to go run into Zaid’s arms and become friends with him. Regardless of my how my blood runs hot at the thought of him, the guy is still an asshole.

“This isn’t about choosing between you and Zaid. I just want the truth, Aiden. I want to understand what happened.”