Wild Nights With My Brother's Ex-Best Friend novel Chapter 29

Chapter 29

NICOLE

“Nikki?”

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Roman’s voice is low and urgent. I have to swallow the sobs forming in the back of my throat at the sound of his concern.

“Mason,” I begin, my voice strained. “He’s back home and things…we had a massive argument.”

“What did he say?”

“A whole bunch of nothing, as usual!” I exclaim before pressing my fingers to my brow bone. I focus on breathing deeply so I won’t bawl my eyes out right now, but that’s pretty hard to do. He called me a tramp. I can’t believe he would say those words to me.

My own brother.

“I have nowhere to go,” I finally say. “I know a motel nearby and I was thinking of—”

“No, of course not,” he interjects in the same tone. “I’m caught up in something right now, but I’ll be there soon, alright? Where are you?”

“In my car. Outside his apartment.”

“Wait for me there, alright?” After a beat, he adds, “Are you hurt?”

“Not physically.”

A knock on my window makes me jump. I see Haley peering at me and I practically convulse with anger. Roman tells me once more to stay put, and I assure him that I will before hanging up.

“Nicole,” Haley begins. “We really need to talk. I know Mason said stupid shit the whole time, but this is serious.”

I roll my window down while saying, “You’re so fake, you know that? This whole time, you knew who he was, yet you acted like you didn’t.”

“I didn’t want to get involved.”

“Oh! That’s why you told Mason?”

Haley shakes her head. “Things between Mason and Roman are more complicated than you think. He has a reason to be upset,”

“No, he doesn’t. It’s my life.”

Her eyes glaze over with tears. “We just don’t want you to get hurt.”

15:18 Wed, Oct 22

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My throat is tight. “And that’s why you decided to hurt me instead?”

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I don’t care about what Roman said years ago. How is that relevant now? When Haley doesn’t say anything in response, I take the opportunity and say outright, “Whatever they went through or argued about isn’t valid anymore. I don’t care. Shit happens. They were young.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Nicole.”

My anger spikes. “Don’t tell me I’m wrong, Haley! You-You know what? I don’t have time for this.”

I start the car and ignore everything she says. I don’t have to wait here. The next person to come down will be Mason, and then this argument will only end when the police get involved.

I park my car a few blocks away, and then the tears come again. I wipe them away angrily, refusing to let all of this get to me.

their This is my fault for being so dependent-there comes a time when everyone’s supposed to go separate ways to avoid such conflicts. But no matter. I’ll figure things out. It’s time for me to move on with my life. I could always get a solid job and pay rent somewhere. It’s time.

Maybe it’s about time I let go of Wings of Grace. I don’t know. It hurts to feel this way but at the same time, I’m not in a position to be picky.

It’s time for me to move on.

I wait for Roman’s call, so when my phone starts to ring, I reach for it. It’s not him, however.

It’s Esmeralda.

I sniffle before answering the call. “Hey.”

“Heyyy,” she says, dragging out the word. If I have to be honest, she sounds a little bit drunk. “How’s my favorite girl in the world doing?”

“Not so great.” I hear music in the background. “Where are you? At a nightclub?”

“Nope. Carmen Lowett’s birthday party.”

“Oh, I say. I still get that little twinge in me at the sound of her name. “I take it you and Armand reconciled, then?”

“We did,” she agrees. “You know, he’s really sweet and he’s good to me. It’ll be hard to find someone like him.”

“Of course,” I say.

“So, yeah, we’re here. I don’t like her, but I have to admit that she’s glowing. And her engagement ring is…wow. That’s all I can say. I’d be glowing too if I had a rock that big on my finger.”

I frown. Immediately, this doesn’t sit well with me. “She’s still engaged?”

Esmeralda sounds confused when she asks, “Isn’t she supposed to be?”

15:18 Wed, Oct 22

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I start to panic, but tell myself to calm down. Roman assured me that he had left her and that the announcement would be made later. It could be that she’s just playing a role.

But then I remember Roman’s alleged meeting, and how he had to go. A coincidence, considering she’s celebrating her birthday? I grow cold and my mouth barely moves when I ask, “So, her whole family’s there? The hot fiancé and everything? Or is it a club-like setting?”

“Yeah, everyone’s here,” she gushes. “He’s gorgeous, this man. Oh. My. God. That cold bitch has no idea just how lucky she is. Now that I’ve got the chance to see him up close, he’s everything.”

I barely make out the rest of her words. I’ve turned to ice and I’m slowly starting to fall apart. He’s there. Roman’s there. Why would he be there when he told me he’s not with her?

What’s going on?

I interrupt her. “Hey, do you think there’s any way that you’d be able to…you know…”

“Sneak you in?” she finishes for me. “Of course! Armand’s Garith’s best friend, remember? And everyone knows I’m with him. We’re at the Coral. Know where it is?”

“Yeah.” It’s like a ten-minute drive away. Mason lives conveniently close to everything. If I drive there, would I be able to get there on time? Or will Roman leave to come for me like he promised he would? It’s a risk I’m going to have to take. “I’ll be there.”

I drive fast, and the whole time, I’m telling myself to calm down so I don’t crash the car, or worse, get stopped by the cops. My heart is barely beating. Is it strange that I don’t feel emotional at all? It’s like all the ice instead of me froze my emotions. It’s impossible to feel anything but the cold.

I see Esmeralda standing at the entrance before I even park the car. I’ve never been more grateful for her presence in my life. I find a parking space by a miracle, then race toward her. She’s dressed in a tight navy blue dress and there are expensive designer heels on her feet. The diamonds dangling from her ears are beautiful. Her smile is wide as I approach, and I offer her a small smile back, but it’s forced.

Until I figure out what the hell is going on, I won’t be able to relax. I’m not even telling myself anything-I want to see this for myself before leaping to conclusions. Would Roman lie to me? I can’t even begin to think about that.

I know what we have. It’s real.

It has to be.

“You look great!” she remarks when I’m standing merely a few feet away from her. “I love that dress!”

“I love yours.”

Taking my hand, she practically drags me inside the building.