Love Novel 36

“What is he doing here?” Nikki whispers, watching Zaid as he strolls up to the court.
I shrug, also keeping my gaze on Zaid as Parker and Aiden turn to him. They both sneer, reluctantly talking to Zaid as he
smiles.
“He never comes here.”
My hands tighten into painful fists and I set them on my thighs, my breath catching in my throat when Zaid turns his
attention to us. Aiden stiffens, the ball in his hands dropping to the ground.
Zaid walks toward Nikki and me, and Aiden watches, though he stays right where he is.
“Nik,” He drawls, smiling at her as she inhales slowly.
“Zaid.” Her tone is short, the name clipped. “What are you doing here?”
He turns his eyes to me. They rake me down to my toes and I press my lips together so that I can ignore the twisting in
my stomach. “I was driving by, thought I’d say hi.”
Nikki looks at me, frowning when she realizes he is not looking away from me.
“Alina.” There’s a tilt in his lips and I finally inhale a gasp.
“What do you want?”
He frowns. “Why so hostile?”
I blink, hating that he can make me feel so many things at the same time. That I can’t seem to control the rage he
induces deep inside me.
And that I can’t blow out the heat he ignites in my chest.
He cocks his head, a slow smile lifting his lips. “Aiden told you, didn’t he?”
I clench my jaw and nod.
“You think less of me now, love?”
A pain pierces through me, and I struggle to breathe. “You could’ve killed someone.”
His shoulders rise and Nikki looks between the two of us like she’s watching a ping-pong match. Her lips parted.
“I could’ve,” he whispers, eyes narrow.
Tears prick my eyes, my hands beginning to tremble. “My family died in a car accident. I told you before, it’s not funny.”
He steps closer. “I’m not laughing, Alina. But perhaps you should ask Aiden for the truth.”
I tense, Nikki hissing beside me. “What do you mean?”
We hear the footsteps before we see Parker and Aiden join us. Aiden claps his hand on Zaid’s shoulder, hard enough that
Zaid tilts forward.
“Why you talking to my girlfriend, Zaid?”
Something flares in his eyes, and it takes a second too long for him to peel his eyes from mine. He’s tense now, his
nostrils flaring and his eyebrows twitching.
He glares at Aiden. Their eyes are almost level, but he has to tilt his chin just a little to really see him. “Why are you lying
to her?”
Aiden twitches, like he was just slapped in the face. He goes incredibly pale, but then he blinks out of his thoughts and
sneers at his older brother. “Watch it, Z.”
Parker shakes his head, grabbing Nikki’s hand and telling her they should leave. Nikki reaches for me, but I shake my
head. I’m staying.
Zaid laughs, evil and maniacally. “Watch what? You scared I’m going to tell her the truth?”
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Aiden steps forward, setting himself between Zaid and I. “No. I already told her the truth. Besides, you’ve never cared
until now.”
Zaid’s eyes shift to me and for a moment my breath escapes me. I can’t explain the gut feeling that rattles through me.
I’m inclined to believe Zaid. Aiden looks shifty, scared.
“What did you lie to me about?” I whisper.
Aiden turns to me, a frown on his face. “What? You believe him?”
I shrug. “What is he accusing you of?”
“Nothing.”
“That he lied to you about what happened the night I got arrested,” Zaid answers for him.
Aiden whirls on him, grabbing his collar and shoving into him. “Shut your fucking mouth, Z.”
Zaid doesn’t do anything. Doesn’t even try to push away, or get his hands off his shirt. He just smirks. “It’ll catch up to
you one day, Aiden.”
“You stay away from Alina, Z.” Aiden lets him go, grabbing my hand and walking us away from the park and to his car.
I look over my shoulder once, eyeing the way Zaid is watching us with his arms crossed over his chest.
“That fucker,” Aiden sneers as soon as we’re in his care.
I stare at him, not knowing if I should try to ask him what is going on, or if there was any truth to what Zaid had said. He
drives off, tires squealing against the road.
“Aiden, slow down.” I grip onto the door as the car flies around the corners.
Aiden grips the steering wheel and growls. “He’s an ass. There was no reason for him to say any of that today. He’s just-”
He smacks a fist to the wheel and I reach for him, placing my hand on his thigh. “It’ll be okay.”
He looks to me, eyes wide. “But you believe me, right? Not him? Not his lies.”
I swallow but nod, anything to calm him down, anything to get him to slow down,
He nods with a clench of his jaw. “Good. Zaid isn’t good for anything. I’ve been trying to get dad to hold off on sending
him to boarding school. Not anymore. I’m not sticking up for that ass.”
My stomach twists.
But it happens.
He convinces his father and a few days later, Zaid is shipped off to Europe. I watch from the window of Aiden’s room as
he drives away, his suitcases in the car. I didn’t get to speak to him again. Aiden made sure of that.
“He leave already?” Aiden walks in from the hallways, closing his bedroom door behind him.
I wrap my arms around myself and nod. “He just drove off.”
Aiden sighs, feigning to look sad. He drops himself on the edge of his bed and grabs my arm, placing me between his
legs. “I don’t think I’ve going to miss him.”
I twist my lips, not sure if that’s a good thing to admit about your brother. “He’ll be back, won’t he?”
Aiden nods. “For winter break.”
“And what-”
“I don’t want to talk anymore.”
He reaches for the hem of my shirt, lifting it over my head. His teeth graze my nipple and my body reacts, all thoughts of
Zaid forgotten.