Wild Nights With My Brother’s Ex-Best Friend novel Chapter 17

NICOLE

Right before I drift off to sleep, my phone vibrates under my pillow.

I assume it’s Mason. Sometimes, he’ll send me reels on Instagram at the strangest hours. He confessed to me once that he has a hard time falling asleep because when Ma died, he had been asleep, and I tried to call him for a couple of hours and he wouldn’t pick up. So, every time he tries to drift off to sleep, he’ll think about that moment when he missed her taking her last breath.

It’s not my brother, though.

It’s Roman.

I miss you, says his text. I want to see you.

Was he really being serious about what he said? Is he determined to ‘chase’ me until I give in? I hate how the thought fills me with excitement even though I know that this will probably amount to nothing.

I send back a, No.

Come on, Nikki.

Stop. I said no.

After a second thought, I send another text saying, This was the last time.

Sure, is what he texts back.

A scoff escapes my lips and then my heart practically jumps out of my mouth when my phone starts vibrating because of an incoming call. Esmeralda. I answer without a second thought and press the phone to my ear. “Yeah?”

“You didn’t look okay. We didn’t have a chance to talk alone.”

“I’m fine,” I assure her as flashes of the evening pass through my mind. “I’m just going through some stuff. You know what it is.”

When did I become such a liar?

“You looked a mess!” Esmeralda exclaims. “You don’t seriously think that I’ll believe you’re fine?”

I run a hand down my face. “Okay, maybe I’m not fine. I didn’t really want to be there, Esmeralda. I went there for you.”

She sighs and sounds guilty when she utters, “I know. I’m so sorry, Nikki. I should’ve been more mindful about what I was putting you through. It’s bullshit, I know.”

“Don’t beat yourself up about it.”

“I will.”

I chuckle and she adds, “The good news is that Garith expressed some interest in you.” I can tell by the sound of her voice that she’s smiling. “Armand told me. He thinks you’re beautiful and he’d be really glad if the two of you spent some time together.”

I give my head a shake and sit up because this is just one of the craziest things I’ve ever heard in my life. “What? But I barely talked to him.”

“You could always have another chance to get to know each other better.”

“What’s Armand? A pimp? No, Esmeralda. I told you. I don’t—” I want to say get involved with men in committed relationships, but I swallow my words. I’m in no position to say anything about that right now. “I don’t want to get to know him. Frankly, he scared me a little bit.”

“Right?” she agrees. “He’s kind of scary, but apparently, he’s really generous with the women he’s seeing. Honestly, Nicole, you could do with the extra help. I mean, it’s no big deal. Just prepare to see him like twice a week, maybe more during the first month because you’ll be his shiny new toy, and you’ll get whatever you want. Bills paid. Flights booked. Whatever you want.”

“Why’s that not tempting at all?”

“Because you’re a fucking idiot, that’s why,” she says almost angrily. “Come on. Why not?”

‘Either you agree to see me, or I’ll send a hundred of these to your house, signed by me. I think you’ll have some serious explaining to do if that happens. Love, Roman.’

I clench my jaw while shaking my head in disbelief. Without allowing myself to think twice, I reach for my phone and dial his number. Angrily, I wait for him to pick up.

Once he does, I ask, “You’re blackmailing me now?”

“If that’s what it takes for me to see you, then yes.”

His reply infuriates me. “Immature bastard. Why don’t you grow the fuck up, Roman? You’re engaged!”

“Will you stop saying that?” he counters. “Besides, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

“Oh, just piss off! Piss right off! How’s this fair?”

“I warned you this would happen and you didn’t even bat an eye,” he mentions casually. How can he say deranged stuff like this so normally? Like it’s nothing? “In fact, you liked it. Look, I don’t want to argue over the phone. Just come and see me. We’ll talk about this, calmly and like the adults we are, and I won’t have to send you a hundred bouquets, alright?”

I focus on breathing for the next few seconds. Agreeing to see him seems like the most sensible thing to do right now. I just want all of this to go away.

“Fine. Where?”

“I’m downstairs.”

At first, his answer confuses me, but when I realize what he means, I inch closer to the window and part the blinds with my fingers before peering through them. Sure enough, Roman is right outside, his phone pressed to his ear. He’s leaning against his car, or one of them, wearing a white dress shirt and dark pants. I can’t tell what the exact color is from where I’m standing.

I hang up and make my way to the door with a curse dangling from the very tip of my tongue.