Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Alina

There's a warmth that settles inside of me when the plates are scraped clean and the wine's been poured for the third time. We're all leaned back in our chairs around the

dining table, tired from turkey and from laughing too much, and full in every sense of the

word.

Zaid's fingers are resting lazily on my knee under the table, his thumb tracing small, absent circles. I glance at him, and he looks relaxed, also completely at peace.

As much as we like having this house to ourselves, having it filled with friends and family

is priceless.

Aiden's arm is slung across the back of Zoe's chair, Elena is swirling her wine with

mischievous smirk, and Noah's pretending not to notice.

"So," Elena says, tipping her head toward Aiden and Zoe. "How did you two meet?"

Aiden gives a soft laugh, scratching the back of his neck. "At school."

Zoe grins. "We had this athlete mixer during orientation week. I play volleyball for UCLA. Aiden was standing with a bunch of basketball guys, trying to look like he wasn't staringnoveldrama

at me."

Aiden groans with a laugh. "I was not staring at you."

"You absolutely were," she teases.

He smiles at her, like she is the light in his eyes. The same way Zaid looks at me.

"He looked so nervous. I had to walk over and introduce myself," she says, rubbing her

hand up and down his thigh.

We all laugh, and I catch the subtle pink creeping up Aiden's cheeks. His eyes flit to Zoe like she's the only person in the room. Oh, this man is in love. I don't need

to be told, it's all over his face, in the softness of his smile, the way his body leans toward hers without realizing it.

Aiden turns to Noah, trying to deflect. "What about you, man? How'd you finally get

Elena to agree to marry you?"

Noah chuckles, taking a sip of his whiskey. "Honestly? I think it was all Alina's doing."

I nearly choke on my wine, laughing. "Me? I did nothing."

Elena rolls her eyes dramatically and smacks Noah's arm. "No one convinced me.

It was just time. And everyone here is invited to the wedding, by the way. I'll send out save-the-

dates soon. It'll be in Italy."

There's a collective cheer, followed by a chorus of excited questions and half- drunk toasts.

Zaid squeezes my knee.

"I'm gonna go get dessert ready," I say, pushing back from the table with a smile.

As I step into the kitchen and start arranging slices of pie onto plates, I hear soft footsteps behind me. I turn and see Zoe walking in, towering over me with her easy,

confident smile.

"Need any help?" she asks, already walking to the fridge.

“Uh, sure, yeah,” I say, caught a little off guard. "Can you grab the ice cream?"

"On it." She pulls it out and sets it on the counter before looking at me with intent, like there's more she came in here for. "Actually, I just wanted to check in with you."

I blink. "With me?"

She gives me a smile that's warm but careful. "Aiden told me you two used to date. He

said it ended amicably. That you were always in love with Zaid."

I nod, smiling softly, not able to stop the heat crawling up my cheeks.

"And I don't want there to be anything weird between us," she says gently.

Relief floods me, and I smile at her. "I really don't want anything weird between us either. I want Aiden to be happy. And he looks so happy with you. He like you so much more than he's ever liked me."

Zoe bites her lip, her smile turning shy for the first time. "I really like him. I know

it's

only been three months, and maybe that's fast, but,I don't know. It feels right. Is

that

weird?"

I laugh, relaxing immediately. "Not even a little. Trust me."

I am not sure how much Aiden has told her exactly about how we used to date, but I'll leave that up to him. All I'm happy about is that there is some truth made known to her. They complement each other so well and I would hate to be the person that comes between them.

"Thank you," she whispers, reaching for my hand.

I take out the ice cream scoop, and we add one to each plate. "What are you studying in school?"

"I am studying communications, you? Do you go to school?" Her yoice is soft, sweet.

I nod. "Yeah, I'm going to art school. Not sure what I want to do with it yet."

We talk until we finish serving, and then I motion to the plates. "Help me carry these?"

We head back into the dining room, each carrying a few dessert plates. As we pass them

around, the conversation picks back up. Elena teasing Noah about his inability to fold laundry, Aiden and I making the comment that Zaid also sucks at folding.

Zaid doesn't even try to defend himself. "I might not fold laundry, but I cook a lot.” Zoe laughs. "That's a surprise, considering Aiden does not know how to cook at all."

Aiden feigns hurt and everyone laughs.

I sit back down next to Zaid and watch them all.

My people. My family.

There are still things up in the air. I don't know where we stand with Jake. I don't know where I stand with my mother. There's a quiet ache that sometimes creeps

in when I think too long about either. But tonight, none of that has weight.

Tonight, I am full. My heart, my home, my life.

Zaid catches me staring, reaches for my hand under the table, and links our

fingers.

And just like that, I know I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.

Here. My home.

The End.