Love Novel 108

I stand in front of the counter in my pajamas. I watch the coffee as it pours down, almost ready.
It’s Saturday morning and I look forward to spending the day with all three of my guys today. Those are my favorite. I
turn to watch the light through the blinds. Aiden is probably still dead asleep from how much we did last night.
A smile spreads across my cheeks as I think about it.
The smell of coffee gets stronger and I inhale, enjoying the rare moment of stillness.
Just as the coffee finishes brewing, a pair of strong arms wrap around me from behind. I hold on to his forearms,
immediately recognizing him. Jake’s lips brush against my neck in a lazy, affectionate kiss.
“Good morning, baby,” he murmurs, his voice still thick with sleep.
A smile tugs at my lips as I lean into him, resting my weight against his chest. “Good morning.”
I hum as his tongue moves down my neck. He lowers the collar of my shirt down my shoulder and bites down softly on
my skin. I jolt, giggling. “Jake.”
His hold around my waist tightens slightly as he rests his chin on my shoulder. “I’ve missed you.”
I turn my head slightly, brushing my lips against his. “I haven’t seen you in a few days. How’s work been?”
Jake sighs but smiles. “Things are finally looking up. I think I’ve finally convinced the board to settle.”
I tilt my head, relieved and genuinely happy for him. “Oh, that’s great. That’s what you wanted, right?”
He nods, pressing another kiss to my shoulder. “I just want this to be over. I want to be home with you.”
Before I can respond, Aiden walks into the kitchen, his hair a complete mess, eyes still laced with sleep. I hold in my
chuckle. “Isn’t this a bit early for you?” I tease.
Jake’s chest vibrates with his own laugh. “I’ve never known you to wake up before ten on a weekend.”
Aiden rolls his eyes, but he clearly enjoys the teasing. He grins when his gaze finds mine, stepping forward and cupping
my face as he presses a soft kiss to my lips, completely unbothered by the fact that Jake still has his arms around me.
“Morning, babe,” he says. “I had fun last night.”
I blush profusely, too aware of Jake at my back. “Me too.”
Jake lets out a low chuckle behind me, his lips finding my neck again. My body responds to having both of their
attention, wetness pooling between my legs.
But before I can do anything about that, it’s Zaid who enters the kitchen. Jake’s body tenses immediately, his arms
dropping from my waist as he takes a step back to dig through the fridge.
Zaid’s eyes flick to Jake, something unreadable passing through them before he turns his attention to me. I force myself
to stay relaxed, telling myself that they just need time. They’ll work through whatever’s between them. They have to.
He leans in, wrapping his arms around my waist and kissing me until I’m dizzy. My legs turn to jelly and god, these men
are going to kill me.
“Hi, love.”
I smile at him, suddenly unable to speak.
He smirks, reaching around me. He serves me my coffee, adding just the right amount of sugar and milk. I smile in thanks
as he hands it to me, his fingers brushing mine briefly.
Aiden leans against the island. “Valentine’s Day is in a couple of weeks. We should probably start planning how we’re
splitting that up.”
Jake says something, but I don’t hear it.
Valentine’s Day. The words hit me like a freight train.
My grip tightens around the coffee mug, my heart pounding in my chest.
Blood rushes to my ears, drowning out the casual banter between Aiden and Jake as they immediately start arguing
about who gets me for the day.
Valentine’s Day.
The day my world shattered.
Subconsciously, my fingers drift to my wrist, tracing the faint scar there.
A flash of headlights. The violent sound of metal crunching.
I close my eyes, trying to steady myself, to push it all back down.
When I open them again, Zaid is watching me. His brows are slightly furrowed, concern etched into his features. His hand
comes to rest on my waist, and he pulls me close to him.
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“Are you okay?” he asks, voice low enough that the others don’t hear.
I nod quickly, too quickly. “Yeah. I’m fine.”
But I can tell he calls bullshit.
Jake and Aiden are too busy bickering to notice as Zaid takes my hand in his, squeezing gently before leading me out of
the kitchen. I follow him wordlessly, my breath unsteady as he guides me to his room, closing the door behind us.
It’s only when we’re alone that I finally crack.
The weight of it all crushes me at once. A choked sob escapes before I can stop it, and suddenly, I’m crumbling.
Zaid takes the mug from my hands and places it on his desk before holding me tight against his chest. “I’ve got you.”
My entire body shakes as I sob.
“I’ve got you.”
The words unravel me further. I hold on to him, my fingers brushing over the scars on his torso and the violent need to word vomit hits me. I pull away, his hands on my cheeks as he watches me.
“I caused it,” I finally whisper, my voice barely audible.
Zaid blinks at me. “What?”
“On Valentine’s day.”
Realization crosses his features, and he closes his eyes. “Shit, love.”
I inhale sharply, forcing the words out before I lose the courage. “My dad took us out that morning. Breakfast, then the
store to get flowers for my mom—just-”
My throat closes up. Zaid’s hold on me tightens.
I force myself to continue. “I distracted dad. It was my fault. I should have just left Alex alone. We rolled.”
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A sob breaks free, and Zaid holds me closer, his hand rubbing slow circles on my back.
“Alex wasn’t wearing his seatbelt.” My voice shatters on the last word, and I break down completely.
Zaid doesn’t say anything. He walks us to the edge of his bed where we sit.
He just holds me as I fall apart, as years of grief and guilt come crashing over me.
“It was my fault-”
“No, no. Don’t say that,” he says, voice soft and yet determined.
“I killed them.”
He pulls back, anger in his eyes. He cups my face, making sure I look directly at him. His eyes are dark, intense. Burning.
“Don’t you dare say that.” His voice is rough, almost angry, but not at me. At the thought. At the weight I’ve been
carrying for years.
I shake my head, trying to look away, but he doesn’t let me. His grip is firm but gentle, his fingers tilting my chin back up,
forcing me to meet his gaze.
“Things happen. You didn’t choose for that to happen. It was an accident.” His jaw clenches, his throat working like the words physically hurt him.
I want to yell at him that he doesn’t understand. But he does. Finally, for once, someone does.
“You’ve been carrying this guilt for so long, and you shouldn’t have to. You didn’t kill them, love.”
My lips tremble. The memories are so strong, so suffocating, and the guilt has lived inside me for so long that I don’t
know how to exist without it.
Zaid sees it. He sees the war happening inside of me, and instead of letting me spiral, he pulls me back against him, his
arms locking around me.
His voice is softer now, but just as steady. “You loved them. They loved you. And they wouldn’t want you to do this to
yourself.”
His lips press against the top of my head, lingering there as his grip on me remains unyielding. I break then, fully and
completely.
And Zaid? He holds me.