Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 77

She's Mine

The pine needles stick to my palms, and | hiss, dropping one hand.

Zaid yells, "Alina! Tellwhen you let go."

He grunts as he takes more of the tree. We fight against the door frand | cannot help the laughter that

bubbles inside of me.

Trying to maneuver the tree through the door and into the living room is almost comical. The branches snag on

the doorway, and Zaid grumbles under his breath, his lips twitching into a grin.

"I thought you were stronger, you know, with being so tall and everything," | tease. "Careful, Alina," he says,

playfully. "You want to carry this tree all by yourself?"

"No!" | laugh, shaking my head as we finally get the tree upright in the stand. It's a Jittle crooked, but it works.

We step back to admire it, our shoulders brushing, and I'm suddenly very aware of how close we are.

| don't pull away.

I lean into him.

The tension from earlier has dissipated, and as much as | am avoiding the topic of kissing him, | enjoy Zaid's

company.

He sighs, leaning intoas well, before placing a kiss on my forehead. "Thank you for bringing Christmas back

to me."

The words cause a swell of emotion to pull at my throat. "I'm going to change. It's too warm for this," | say

quickly, tugging at the hem of my sweater.

Zaid nods. "I'll grab the ornaments."

| dart upstairs to my room, peeling off my sweater and jeans in favor of a pair of shorts and a loose T-shirt. The

fabric feels light against my skin, and | sigh in relief as | run a brush through my hair.

1/4

She's Mine

This is the most unflattering outfit. The shorts are loose onand so is the shirt, so nothing hugs my curves.

Perfect.

When | cback downstairs, Zaid is kneeling by the open box of ornaments, pulling out garlands and tangled

string lights. His gaze lifts when he hears me, and his hands still.

His eyes darken, and they travel from the tips of my toes to my eyes. There's anger in the set of his features and

it makesuncomfortably insecure.

| freeze. "What?"

His jaw tightens, and he shakes his head, muttering, "You're killing me, love." Heat rushes to my cheeks.

"Sorry," | stammer, tugging at the hem of my shirt, but his eyes linger on my legs for a beat longer before he

looks away, busying himself with untangling the lights.

| ignore the burn in my stomach and slowly kneel down beside him.

We start decorating, and the tension melts away as we laugh over Zaid's terrible attempts

to drape the garlands evenly.

"That's terrible, Zaid," | laugh as | correct the garland he had just placed.

He grimaces as he watchesand scratches the back of his neck. "It makes sense why

mom never lethelp."

| snort, but when | turn around | catch him looking down at the garland in his hands, his throat bobbing with thick

emotion.

| place my hand on his arm and squeeze. His eyes go toand they drop to my lips, nostrils flaring. He's stiff,

tense, and | can tell he wants the comfort of my lips, of my touch. | have to pull away before we're on top of each

other.

| reach for an ornament and stretch on my tiptoes, trying to hang it higher on the tree.

"Careful," Zaid warns.

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She's Mine

Before | know it, | lose my balance. His hands catch me, one warm and firm on my waist where my shirt has

ridden up.

His breath brushes against my ear, and | shudder. He steadies me, his hand still on my waist as he places his

other hand on mine and helpshang the ornament.

When | turn to thank him, | cface to face with the slook in his eyes. It's dark, intense, filled with a

hunger that makes my pulse race.

| can't stop myself from leaning closer, the pull between us too strong to ignore. His eyes flicker to my lips, and

mine drop to his. He's so warm and so close.

The front door slams. | tense and pull away, but not fast enough.

"What the fuck is this?" Aiden's voice cuts through the air.

| jerk back, my heart racing, and Zaid's hand drops from my waist as we both turn

to face him. Aiden's expression is a storm of anger, his fists clenched at his sides.

"Are you serious right now?" His eyes bounce between us.

"Aiden, it's not "

"Don't," he growls, his attention snapping at Zaid. "What the hell is wrong with you? She's my girlfriend!"

Zaid's jaw tightens, but he doesn't say anything.

"Aiden, it's not all Zaid's fault," | say quickly, guilt twisting in my chest.

Aiden turns to me, and the anger in his eyes melts away to understanding. Shock

parts his lips and he looks between the both of us a few times.

Then he settles on me. "Do you have feelings for him?"

My throat goes dry, and | can't bring myself to answer. | can't say no. That would

be a lie. And if | say yes? What would that mean? What would that do?

His face crumples, and pain crumples his brow. "She's mine."

He directs the words to Zaid, but they punchin the gut.

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3:18 pm

She's Mine

"For once, just let something be mine, Zaid. It's always about you,"

| blink. An incredulous feeling runs through me. It's almost like he doesn't care

about me. As if he wouldn't have minded if | had kissed anyone else.

But because it's Zaid, it bothers him.

Zaid steps forward. "Aiden-"

"Don't," Aiden spits, his voice breaking. "Just don't."

He looks atone last tbefore turning and walking up the stairs and into his

room, slamming the door behind him.

| stand frozen, my chest tight.

Zaid's gaze shifts to me, regret etched into his features.

"I'm sorry," he says softly before following Aiden, leavingalone in the room,

the unfinished tree standing behind me.