Wild Nights With My Brother’s Ex-Best Friend novel Chapter 28

NICOLE

“What do we have to talk about?” I hear myself asking, but the truth is that right now, my head is spinning so fast that I don’t have full control over my speech and other functions.

I wasn’t expecting to see him-I’m too shocked.

Mason takes a step toward me, emanating aggression. “How about the fact that you’ve been seeing Roman Fucking Hayes?”

Words can’t quite describe the way my insides turn to mush, harden, then shatter into tiny pieces, all in the space of a few seconds. Out of all the things he could’ve said to me, this is the last thing in the world I thought he’d ever say.

Panic threatens to choke me alive. I can’t breathe. I can hardly think.

“Answer me!” he rages, stepping toward me. Haley gives us a look and steps forward, grabbing his arm.

“Calm down, Mason,” she tells him in a low voice.

He snaps his head in her direction. “Calm down? Are you seriously telling me that? She’s my sister and she’s going out with that…what the fuck have you been doing with him, anyway? What’s wrong with you, Nicole?”

I have to find my tongue and talk. Mason can’t be saying these things about Roman. Dammit, why can’t I get over my shock!?

I’ve never felt more like a child than I do now.

Haley and I exchange a look, and it suddenly hits me-she’s the one who told him. For the last minute, I’ve been busy wondering how my brother could have found out about this. That’s why it took me so long to react. I say this to her. “You’re the one who told him, weren’t you?”

She knew who he was the first time she saw him.

I feel…betrayed, for some reason.

“Hey!” Mason exclaims, making me turn my attention to him. “You leave her out of this! This conversation is between the two of us.”

A fresh wave of anger hits me. “Yeah? Perfect, then. Let’s fucking talk about it, then, Mason! Yes, I’ve been seeing him!”

“Seeing?” he echoes, his features pinched together. “Elaborate. What do you mean by seeing him?”

“We’ve been seeing each other,” I repeat. “Roman and I are in love.”

Complete silence falls upon the living room, and all we can do is look at each other. Even Haley is shocked. I want to ask how she knew about him and more specifically, why she didn’t talk to me before she went to Mason. I thought we were friends.

Apparently, I was wrong.

Suddenly, Mason chuckles as he looks at me. It starts low and slow, then he starts to get loud and he claps. “Wow. That’s rich. That’s got to be the most fucking brilliant thing I’ve ever heard. You’re screwing with me, Hales? This isn’t true. You’re both just lying to me?”

I look at Haley, jaw clenched. “Yeah, go on. Answer his question. Tell him all about you know!”

“I’m sorry, Nicole.”

“You’re sorry?” It’s my turn to laugh. “You’re not sorry. You couldn’t wait for his return so you could go ahead and tell him everything you think you know! You’re a snake!”

“Hey, don’t call her that!” Mason yells. He looks back and forth between us. “Haley, this is real? You’re not lying to me?”

She pinches the bridge of her nose and doesn’t answer his question, but I do. “Yeah, it’s true. You don’t have to worry about it being a joke. Roman and I are together.”

“He’s fucking engaged to some rich bitch. What do you mean, you’re together?”

“He left her,” I explain. “They’re not together anymore. It’s just going to take some time for the announcement to be made.”

He taps the side of his head. “Are you listening to yourself? You’re talking right out of your ass, Nic! What…what the fuck…I don’t even know how to ask this. Did you fuck him?”

“Well, your word wasn’t enough!” I hiss. “Whatever happened between the two of you was a long time ago and so were all your jokes! Roman and I are in love. And if you’re not okay with that, then you’re not and I have nothing else to do here!”

“You’re not listening to me!” he yells after me as I head to my room. “You’re too fucking stupid to listen, too? He’s using you to get to me!”

“Ha-ha,” I say, but nothing’s funny. Tears are gathering in my eyes and making it harder for me to see. I enter my room and start to pack a few things. After this, I won’t be able to stay here. I pull a few things together quickly and make a mental note to grab my car keys from the kitchen counter. “Sure. How narcissistic of you. After all these years, he’s still living for whatever fucked up thing he said when you were younger. I’m the one who ran into him-he didn’t come after me!”

“Do you think that really matters?” Mason asks. He’s yelling at this point. “What the hell are you doing? Where are you going?”

“Away from this place.” I’m trying hard not to sob. “I can’t take this anymore.”

“Oh, really? So, you’re just going to walk out? Seriously? After all I said to you?”

I meet his gaze as I grab my keys, a bag slung over my shoulder. “You said a whole lot of nothing. And you know what? I don’t care about what you think!”

Hurt is written all over his face. “Go, then. Go! Go be with him and see where that will land you! Go! Get out of here! Who wants a tramp for a sister anyway?”

“Mason!” I hear Haley exclaim again. I’m already out the door and down the metal staircase. I’m furious. The porter greets me but I’m barely listening to him.

Tears are cascading down my face.

I’m devastated.

I need to call the one person who can get me out of this mess. Roman. Once I’m in my car, I dial his number without even thinking and press the phone to my ear.