Love Novel 102

Zaid was right.
Aiden was more upset with the lying than he was with the fact that I was with Jake, or that I wanted to be with Jake.
Things settled into a routine really quick and the next few days went by in a flash.
Next thing I know, it’s Monday and I’m walking down the school hallways with my hand in Aiden’s. It’s just us here. Zaid
is still expelled from Melview, so even though he didn’t return to boarding school, homeschool is the only option for him.
We stand in a circle during lunch. Nikki, Parker and some other of Aiden’s teammates are with us, talking about break
and what we did over the holidays.
Aiden slips his hand into my back pocket, pulling me closer to him until my hip bumps against his. He looks down at me,
a smirk playing on his lips.
He leans toward me, his lips on the crown of my head, and he whispers so only I can hear. “You know, I kind of like this.”
I glance at him, smiling. “Like what?”
He shifts, moving closer to me and running his lips down my face until he kisses my lips. We’re ignoring the entire group,
but they don’t seem to notice. “Being the only one here with you. Feels like old times.”
Something sharp twists in my chest. Old times. I try to hide the panic shuffling through me. Back when it was just Aiden
and me. When I didn’t know what it felt like to want more.
To want all of them.
I force a smile, but it feels off. “Yeah. Old times.”
But I can’t imagine going back to just him. Things might be a bit more complicated, but I’m happier.
Aiden’s smile disappears as he looks over my shoulder, and he sighs heavily. “Oh, shit.”
I turn around and I can hear the blood rushing to my ears. Sadie is sauntering toward us, her posse right behind her,
including Will.
Aiden wraps his arm around my waist protectively.
“Well, well, if it isn’t Alina and her favorite Matthews.” She rolls her eyes when she looks up at Aiden.
I freeze for half a second before I school my expression. She stops in front of us, her arms crossed, a smirk curling her
lips. My chest tightens involuntarily, but I force my shoulders to stay loose. I try not to even let my eyes shift over to Will.
Sadie tilts her head, her gaze flicking between Aiden and me. She trying to look condescending and it only increases the
anger boiling inside me.
She twirls her hair between her fingers. “Now that I’m with Zaid, I guess you can keep the younger, less experienced
brother.”
A crazy smile curls her lips as she speaks, but all I see is an insecure little girl.
Aiden smirks, and a snort escapes him.
I arch an eyebrow, crossing my arms as I try to hide my smile. “You’re with Zaid?”
Sadie rolls her eyes, like I’m being ridiculous, and looks down at her fingernails. “You really forgot he took me to the wedding rehearsal?”
I fight to keep my expression neutral. I press my lips together, but the hint of a smile threatens to slip through. I want to
laugh at her; tell everyone right here in the open that Zaid is as much mine as Aiden is.
Aiden lets out a short laugh, shaking his head. “Yeah, my brother is not dating you.”
Sadie’s eyes turn angry, and she presses her teeth together. “You jealous, Aiden?”
Aiden’s laugh is a bark, mocking. Sadie’s confidence fades away with every second, her girls closing in around her. They
look at us like we’re the heartless ones. I still don’t look at Will, not knowing if I could give him the same hardness I give
Sadie.
“How can he be jealous if you’re lying?” Nikki asks, stepping up to stand next to me. Her shoulder brushes mine and I’m
thankful for her support.
Sadie looks between all of us. “I’m not lying.”
Aiden frowns, mockingly. “So if I call him up, put him on speaker, would he say you two are dating?”
Her cheeks turn red and her lips tremble. Her eyes go from Aiden to me to Nikki, then back at me. “Whore.”
The insult bounces off of me like it’s nothing as Sadie walks away with her little group. I turn to see Nikki scowling like
she wants to strangle Sadie, and I chuckle. “Thanks for standing up for me.”
Nikki crosses her arms on her chest and turns toward me. “She’s a bitch.”
I exhale slowly, pushing past whatever nerves are bubbling inside me. I’m not scared of Sadie. “We can just ignore her.”
She tilts her head, matching my smirk. “Good.”
Once all the adrenaline from that confrontation is gone, we all split up and head to class. It’s then when the nerves in the
pit of my belly start because Aiden isn’t in this class with me.
I sit alone in the back, keeping my head down as I ignore everyone else that fills the seats. It’s not until someone drops
themselves into the seat beside me that I lift my eyes. I kind of wanted to sit alone.
A wide smile and familiar brown eyes meet mine. “Sup, Alina?”
Planning your weekend reading? Ensure you’re on 𝗻𝚘𝑣𝘦𝕃5s.com for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a
click away, exclusively available on our site. Happy reading!
“Jace?”
He leans back in his chair. “You remember my name.”
I smile back at him. “Why are you sitting with me? Zaid’s not here.”
He only shrugs. “Told me to keep an eye on you once I told him Will was back at school.”
For some reason, that makes my chest swell.
“He did?”
Jace nods. “You have him wrapped around your little finger.”
I blush.
He leans in close, eyes narrow. “He told me everything.”
That only makes me blush harder.
“You ever think about adding a fourth man to that equation; just give me a call.”
Okay, he’s joking. It makes me feel infinitely less judged and I smack his arm at the same time I scoff. “Jace!”
He laughs. “Yeah, don’t tell Zaid I said that. It was a joke.”
We settle in for class and Jace follows me around for the rest of my classes. He reminds me of Zaid, and it makes me feel
just that much more