Wild Nights With My Brother’s Ex-Best Friend novel Chapter 172

NICOLE

I find Sebastian in the same restaurant we used to go to.

I have the feeling that something is off about him as soon as my eyes land on his face.

He looks agitated and genuinely looks like he has aged five years in the space of a few weeks. When he catches a glimpse of me, he stands up.

“Nicole,” he says once I’m close to his table, “thanks for coming.”

“Is everything alright?” I ask slowly as I hang my purse on the back of the chair and sit down. He grabs a seat, too, and clasps his hands in front of him. The circles under his eyes are dark and really stand out.

I’m concerned.

“actually no, Nicole,” he admit before leaning closer to me. “I’ve been thinking about all of this for a long time.

You know. The fight. The lawsuit.”

I shift uncomfortably in my seat but keep my eyes on his face. Sebastian was there for me during me during one of the toughest times of my life, so it only makes sense that I’m here when he clearly needs to get something off his chest.

Yes, Roman would probably be angry to know that I’mhere, especially because of the bad blood between them, but I’m not doing anything wrong. I don’t have bad intentions either.

Sebastian runs a hand through his already disheveled hair. “You know, Nicole, I’feel bad. Really bad. I know Roman hit me first and that was the basis of the entire lawsuit, but the truth is that it wasn’t unprovoked. I..said something to him. Maybe you know about it?”

“No,” I claim, even though I recall Roman mentioning something like this.

After a beat, Sebastian says, “Yeah. I provoked him. I said something I shouldn’t have said, and if I were him, I’d punch me, too. I behaved in a way that truly shames me, you know? I’m…I’m losing it, Nicole. Bit by bit. Day by day I’m not behaving like my usual self.”

His gaze intensifies and he looks like he’ll say something else, but is cut off by a waitress approaching. I order a water because I really need one. Sebastian asks for his wine glass to be refilled.

“I called you here because I wanted to apologize for the trouble. I also want you to know that I’m dropping it.”

“You are?”

Sebastian nods. “I’m hoping that maybe this will make me feel better. I don’t know. I need some relief.” He pauses, then shakes his head. “I did something bad, Nicole. I agreed to something so fucking terrible that it’s keepingme awake. I’m trying to fix it, but I can’t. Not yet. I’m trying, though.”

“What did you do?” I ask softly, thinking to myself that it’s got to be something really bad if he’s in such bad shape.

Sebastian shakes his head. “Ican’t tell you. You’d never forgive me.”

“You’re scaring me, Sebastian.”

“I know. I’m scaring myself, too.”

Our drinks arrive and Sebastian immediately downs the wine. Some even spills down his chin. I tell him, “Take it easy, Sebastian. For the love of God. What’s going on?”

He runs a hand down his face, smearing the wine on his chin. I’m watching him wide-eyed, I think. “I’m sorry, Nicole. I know you shouldn’t even be here.”

“You’re a friend. You needed me. Of course, I should be here.”

His eyes are a little wide as he stares back at me. I know he and Roman had that fight, but is it bad that I don’t hate him? I trust Sebastian, too. Roman would hate me if I admitted this out loud, but maybe I’m the only one who’s trying to do the pleasing here.

So, he can disappear for an entire night and I can’t be there for a friend who needs me?

“Nicole,” he whispers, looking so haunted that it crushes185: Veiled Apology

my heart, “I’m sorry. For everything. I guess part of the reason why we’re all here is because I didn’t know how to be a man for you. Or rather, I couldn’t be the man you needed. I trüsted my family too much around you. I didn’t protect you.”

“Sebastian…”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify