Secrets of Us: A Forbidden Love Romance


    My breath stutters. I blink, trying to see if he is a dream, a figment my imagination,


    But he''s there, standing, real. He doesn''t look angry, just looks at me with a soft smile. He has one hand in his pocket, the other holding a bag slung over his shoulder.


    "What are you doing here?" I repeat, tightening my fingers around the doorframe.


    He smiles more, but it doesn''t quite reach his eyes. "I needed to talk to you," he says. "Get some things off my chest."


    I nce toward the driveway instinctively. Aiden and Zaid won''t be back for at least another hour. My heart beats a little faster. I don''t know if it''s nerves or the memory of ourst encounter rising up in my chest.


    Still, I step back and let him in.


    Maybe I''m overreacting. Maybe this is closure, and he really is here with good intentions.


    We walk into the living room, and I keep a respectable distance as I sit on the edge of the couch. Jake hovers near the firece before finally sitting too, hands sped together between his knees.


    His eyes flick over me, settling for a second too long on the paint stains on my apron. His expression softens.


    "I didn''t know you were into painting," he says, voice quieter than before.


    I swallow the lump in my throat.


    "I remember when Zaid got you some art stuff for Christmas, but I guess I didn''t realize how much you actually liked it."


    I shift in my seat, arms crossing over my chest. "Yeah," I say, not sure what else to say.


    He lets out a slow breath, almost like a sigh. "Just means I never really knew you, huh?"


    My teeth catch the inside of my cheek. I don''t know what to say to that either. I settle for a question. "Why are you here, Jake?”


    His gaze lifts to meet mine again, more honest this time. "I wanted to apologize."


    My breath catches in my throat and I try not to let it show.


    "For how I wasst time I was here. I was angry. Hurt. And I wanted someone to me. You were the easy target."


    I nod slowly. "Thank you for that." I say. And I mean it. The apology doesn''t erase everything, but it does make him more human in


    my eyes.


    He leans back slightly. "It surprised me. How fast things ended between us. I guess I wasn''t expecting it. And if it were up to me, we would still be together."


    I look down at my hands, fingers resting in myp.


    "But," he adds, with a half smile, "Aiden gave me a piece of his mind. Really made me think about things. And I get it now. At least a little. I''m sorry. I really just want you to be happy, Alina."


    Something in my chest unclenches. "Thank you," I say again, quieter this time.


    "I mean it."


    I look up at him and nod, offering him a smile. It quickly turns into frown. "This is nice and all, but it couldn''t have been a phone


    call."


    He chuckles, then shifts the bag off his shoulder and ces it on the coffee table.


    "Well, maybe. But I also came to give you this."


    He pulls out a folder and hands it to me.


    I frown, confused. "What is it?"


    "Just open it." He nods toward the mani folder in hands.


    I flip it open slowly and freeze. It''s a deed. To this house. With my name on it.


    My mouth falls open. "Is this? This house? It''s mine?"


    Jake nods once.


    "No," I say quickly, shaking my head. "Jake, I can''t ept something like this from you."


    "It''s not from me," he interrupts.


    Lblink at him. "What?"


    He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. "When Zaid and Aiden were younger, I gave them each a chunk of money. Told them to invest it, save it, whatever."


    My blood runs cold through me.


    "When Zaid said you wanted this house, he used his. Insisted on paying for it himself. And when everything settled, he told me he wanted it in your name. Said he wouldn''t have it any other way."


    I press a trembling hand to my mouth. My heart is thundering so hard I can barely hear him anymore. The tearse before I can stop them, hot and fast and overwhelming. I didn''t know it was possible to feel so undeserving and so deeply loved at the same


    time.


    I don''t deserve Zaid. I never have. And now part of me wonders if I ever will.


    "He didn''t want me to tell you, but I think you should know."


    I nod, still numb.


    Jake leans in and wraps his arms around me. I let myself cry into his chest, my fingers gripping his shirt, because there''s nothing else to hold on to right now.


    "He''s never looked at anyone the way he looks at you," Jake says softly. "I''ve never seen him fall like this, Alina. I really hope you''re happy with him."


    "I am," I whisper, nodding as I try to gather the pieces of myself.


    He pulls back just enough to kiss my forehead. "I also wanted to let you know that


    my divorce with your mother, it''s finalized. You won''t have to see me again."


    I look up at him through dampshes. "You''re still Zaid''s dad. I hope one day we can all be okay around each other."


    Jake nods, a flicker of something like hope in his eyes.


    "One day."


    It''s thest thing he says before he lets me walk him to the door.


    "Goodbye, Alina," he says, eyes lingering for just a second longer. "Bye, Jake."


    And then he''s gone.


    I look down at the deed in my trembling hands and that''s when the decision is


    made in my heart. When it''s solid and I know I won''t change it again.


    I''m going to Italy.


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