Wild Nights With My Brother’s Ex-Best Friend novel Chapter 11

All I can do is stand by while Roman punches the guy in the face, kicks him in the ribs, and curses him.

“Hey, I’m sorry!” the guy bursts out. “Are you fucking crazy?”

Like a possessed beast, Roman pulls him to his fists and slams him against the wall. I watch this scene unfold before me numbly-later, the horror of this evening will register. Right now, all I can do is watch.

He practically growls. “You ever put your hands on her again, I’ll fucking kill you. Do you understand me?”

He pushes the guy toward the exit, causing him to stumble. He then scrambles to his feet and disappears through the crowd, leaving the two of us alone.

Roman turns to face me, fists still clenched. His expression softens a tad while he asks me, “Are you alright? Did that fucker hurt you?”

I rub my wrists while my eyes remain trained on his face. I can’t believe I just witnessed that. “Yeah. I’m fine.”

“Why would you do that?” he demands, inching closer to me. “Why would you dance with some guy you don’t even know?”

I frown and step away from him. “Oh, so now I asked for this, did I? You’re such an asshole, Roman! People dance with strangers all the time!”

“You didn’t dance with him for that reason, Nikki.” I can only look up at his face as he steps closer to me. His scent invades my nostrils. Musky. Minty. Aquatic. Delicious. “You did it to provoke me because you knew I was watching.”

A scoff escapes me. It’s so weak that it’s pitiful. “Don’t be so conceited. I didn’t do it for you! I would never willingly involve myself with a man in a committed relationship!”

Roman seems to flinch at my words, and I manage to put aside the attraction I still feel toward him and focus on what’s right and what I should be doing. “You’re engaged.”

“Nikki-”

“Don’t call me that!” I exclaim. “You should’ve told me you were going to marry someone else. I would’ve never gotten involved with you!”

“Oh, like you didn’t know?” he retorts. “You know everything about my life, yet for some reason, you didn’t know I was engaged? That’s rich, Nikki.”

His words are like a slap across my face. I turn on my heel and start walking away from him, and he immediately grabs my arm to stop me. “I didn’t mean that, okay? I’m sorry. I’m just flustered here. You were dancing with some other guy and he had his hands all over you.”

I give his massive chest a shove. “You’re here with your fiancée! Are you even listening to yourself?”

I feel like I’m losing my mind.

“It’s not what you think,” he grits out. “Carmen and I are only together due to business relations. It’s an arranged relationship.”

I can’t help myself-I let out a bark of laughter. “You’re such a fucking liar. You had your arms around her and the two of you seemed pretty in love to me.”

“Looks can be deceiving.”

I’ve had enough of this. I tear my arm away from his grip and say, “Let me go. I’ve had enough of this. Oh, and I’m sending your money back to you.”

His eyes darken. “No, you’re not going to do that.”

“Oh, I will.”

“Nikki.”

I ignore him and keep going.

“Don’t you dare walk away from me!”

Before I know it, he’s grabbing me again and pushing me against the wall. His body’s pressed against mine, trapping me. I glare at him. “Roman, let go!”

“Tell me why you’re so mad,” he murmurs. His face is so dangerously close to mine that his lips brush against mine as he speaks. “Is it because I didn’t answer your text? I was mad, Nikki. You broke my fucking heart. I’ve never felt used before until that night.”

“Well, it was. If you’d excuse me, I have things to do and places to be. Don’t contact me again. And don’t worry -I’ll send you your money back.”

He lets me go this time. I feel his eyes on me and ignore him. I’m brimming with anger. I feel stupid. For some reason, I also feel betrayed, which is a crazy thought process for the one-night stand I was to him. A conquest. A probable ‘fuck-you’ to Mason.

Before I round the corner and rejoin the dancing strangers, I hear him say, “If you think I’m going to let this go, you don’t know me, Nikki.”

I can’t even see where I’m going, which is why I bump into someone. I cause her to spill her drink all over herself, and before I can even apologize, her eyes snap to mine and she asks me, “Are you stupid? Can’t you see where you’re going?”

It’s the redhead-the one who was with Roman. Great, just my luck.

“I’m sorry,” I manage to say. I really made a mess and this is completely my fault.

“Look what you’ve done!”

“It was an accident,” I say angrily, losing my cool. “If you’re not content with my apology, you can fuck yourself.”

I shove right past her, heading straight to the exit. I’m blinded by anger and the tears are coming fast. This is all such an incredible mess. This has to be a punishment of some kind.

I should’ve never gotten involved with Roman.

Once I’m outside, I take in deep breaths to calm myself down. I hate to leave Esmeralda’s party like this, but I can’t stay in that club a second longer. This might be the reason why we stop talking, but I have to go.

I shoot her an apologetic text, switch off my phone, and head home.