Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 249

Zaid drives with one hand on the wheel, the other resting casually on his thigh. The sky outside is shifting into

that dark black of night, and the silence between us isn't awkward. It's just full of the things we're giving each

other things to say.

| glance over at him. The slope of his nose. The slight pull on his brow. The way

his lashes fan against his cheekbones when he

blinks.

He catches me.

"You're staring," he says, a small smile tugging at his lips.

| don't even pretend to look away.

"I can't help it,” | say softly. "You're so beautiful to me."

His jaw flexes just once, and he reaches across the console for my hand. Our fingers tangle together like muscle

memory.

| look down at them. "We have a week. Just us. Before | go."

"I know," he says quietly, and even though he's still smiling, | hear the weight in his voice.

There's a silence again.

| squeeze his hand gently. "It's going to suck, but it's also going to be good. | mean, you knew | needed this.

Before | even did."

He nods, not looking at me, eyes fixed on the road ahead. "I knew. And | want you

to have it. The space. The freedom. You're own piece of life."

His words warm me, and then guilt straddles my chest. | hesitate and take a breath. “Jake cby. While you

and Aiden were gone that one day."

He finally glances at me.

My heart is in my throat. "He gavethe deed."

Zaid blinks. His hand tightens just slightly around mine, his other hand turning white on the wheel. "He wasn't

supposed to say anything."

"Why?" | ask softly. "Why wouldn't you wantto know?"

He's quiet. For a while. He lets go of my hand and brings both of his hands to the wheel. "I didn't want you to feel

like you owedanything. You broke up with Jake, and then Aiden. What if you felt the need to break up with

me?"

"I wouldn't have. | won't. | don't want to."

He smiles, nodding. "But if you wanted to. | didn't want this getting in the way. | wanted you to have a place that

was yours. You had to leave Florida, you had to leave Arizona. But this is yours. No one can kick you out, no one

can move you across the country."

| wipe the tears from my cheeks.

"No matter where you end up. No matter who you chose, you have a home."

"I'm going to miss you so much," | whisper.

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Chapter 249

He chuckles under his breath, but there's no humor in it, just tenderess. "You have no idea how much I'm going

to miss you."

| turn toward him more as he pulls into the driveway. We get out of the car silently

and the moment we step inside the house, Zaid's hand wraps around my wrist. He pullsin, cupping my face

before kissingin a slow but intense kiss.

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His hips press into mine, and | gasp from the tenderness and strengh of his touch.

"I've been wanting to do this all week," Zaid exhales.

I nod against his lips. "Me, too."

He liftsinto his arms, carryingto the couch, where he lays on my back and settles over me. His hands

explore my skin beneath my clothes and | freeze, pressing a hand to his chest.

"What are we doing?" | ask.

Zaid frown. "Right now?"

I nod. "Right now. For the next week, when | get back from Italy. When are we going to stop running from each

other?"

He looks atbriefly, his eyes soft and sure. He pullswith him as he sits, settingon his lap with my legs

around his hips. He looks like he's thinking, letting his fingers trace the skin of my waist.

"I'm still working through stuff," he says. "The way | grew up, the way | guarded myself. Everything that

happened in the accident, and then everything that happening in the hospital. | know I've been messy with you.

And selfish. And scared."

"I've been scared, too," | whisper.

He nods. "I know. That's why this is good. You going to Italy. Me, staying. Facing the stuff I've avoided for a long

time."

| trace my thumb across his knuckles. "So what are we?"

He smiles faintly. "We're each other's future, and right now, you're my hope."

My throat is tight.

"We'll figure it out when you cback," he adds. "No pressure. No timelines."

I nod, the tears finally spilling over, but | don't hide them.

"Okay," | whisper. "You're my hope, too. You have been for a while. My peace. The quiet in my storm. | wouldn't

have the guts to do any of this if it weren't for you.”

His eyes study me, and we fall quiet again.

Eventually, my lips find his. We kiss each other like this is the last twe will, like we want to savor every

moment.

That week goes by fast. So fast. The day of my flight with Elena, my nerves are shot. | have half a mind to run

out of the airport and find my way into Zaid's arms. | remind myself why I'm doing this and get on that plane.

Elena comfortsand then distracts me. She showsher presentations, documents on the paintings she

hopes she will get a chance to look at and then bid on. We talk about college possibilities when | get back.

My heart feels incredibly hollow without Zaid by my side, and yet | know that I'm the luckiest person on the

plfor having him in my life. For having Elena with me. For having this opportunity thrown on my lap.

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Chapter 249

We have a short layover in Paris and by the twe make it to Florence, | am exhausted. The first thing | do is

reach for my phone, | send out a text to Zaid and wait for his reply.

When it doesn't cthrough, | call.

When that call doesn't go through, | start pace.

There's a knock on my door and then Elena walks in. She sees the worry on my

face and she smiles. "Have you tried to call Zaid?"

Suspicion flashes through me, and | nod.

She nods. "I just talked to him, let him know we made it here safely.

I frown. "You talked to him?"

She makes her way towardand handsa letter. “He askedto give you

this."

| reach for the envelope with a shaking hand, and Elena says nothing else as she walks out of my room.

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