Wild Nights With My Brother’s Ex-Best Friend novel Chapter 40

NICOLE

“Daphne is my ex,” Sebastian explains after a few beats of silence. “She and I broke things off about three months ago.”

“That’s not too long ago,” I comment.

“It feels like it is,” he claims as he turns his head to look at me. “Things were ugly for us, and I just wanted closure. I still do. I don’t understand why my mother would invite someone who cheated on me.”

I nearly choke on the gasp that was going to slip from my lips, but I’ve managed not to make a sound. I don’t mean to make him uncomfortable in any way.

He’s confiding in me, and I want him to know that I take that very seriously.

“I’m sorry about that,” is the only polite thing I can think to say.

Sebastian nods at me, then smiles a little. “Then again, that’s my family for you.”

“I take it your mother likes her?”

“Yes. She always has. Daphne is her best friend’s daughter, after all, and she’s always envisioned this big wedding for us. Something big enough to hit the tabloids. She practically forced me to be with her. I wouldn’t have minded if she had been faithful to me. I’m a loyal guy. I expect the same.”

“Of course,” I nod. For some reason, this conversation is reminding me of Roman, and it’s making me feel…it’s hard to describe the feeling. My skin is crawling and I’m annoyed, but at the same time, I know I have no right to be. Not here, at least.

I should be over the whole thing by now. I’ve been avoiding all thoughts of him for so many days.

“I hope the tension didn’t spoil your dinner.”

“No, of course not. I barely noticed it.”

“Barely?” he smiles.

I shrug and smile, too. I don’t want to make him uncomfortable, I spot Katie on the other side of the pool, and she makes her way toward us slowly. “I hope you enjoyed dinner, Nicole! I know we didn’t have much of a chance to talk.”

“It was delicious,” I say before standing up. Sebastian does, too. “Thank you for inviting me. That tiramisu!”

“I’ll prepare a little something for you to take with you,” she winks. “I’ve got more than enough.”

I don’t decline, even if it would be polite. I definitely want to take a piece of that home with me.

“Oh, yes. Sebastian, Cynthia would like to speak with you. She’s been looking for you.”

Sebastian nods curtly before turning to me with a smile. Katie and I sit back down on her porch swing. Silence falls upon us, but only for a few seconds. Then she says, “I take it he explained to you who that woman was.”

“Yes,” is all I say, not wanting to go into detail.

Katie sighs. “Cynthia. She would’ve been a better person if she weren’t always focused on managing everyone’s lives. I told her this countless times.”

Still, I don’t comment. Katie turns her head to look at me, then bumps her shoulder into mine. “You and Sebastian, huh?”

I blush and immediately get defensive. “He’s my boss, Katie. Our relationship is polite, nothing more.”

“Yes, sure,” she replies with a playful roll of her eyes. “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t criticize you. I think my godson needs someone like you.”

I scoff lightly. “I’m a mess, Katie. You know that as well as I do.”

“Well, so is he, in some ways. And there’s no reason why you can’t both grow and find new ways of dealing with your dilemmas.”

I laugh at this. Katie is quite the comedian. “Yeah, right.”

Another beat of silence passes, and then she asks, “Speaking of dilemmas. Have you managed to contact your family yet?”

Silence is what greets me on the other end of the line. I frown as I wait for the person to say something. I can hear them breathing.

“Hello?” I say again, wondering if this is a prank call. I’ve never gotten one of those before, but there’s a first time for everything, right?

I’m just about to hang up when Mason says, “This is what you’re doing now, huh? Ignoring people. I’ve got to call from someone else’s number so you can pick up?”

I’m in shock. Genuine shock. I place my hand over my mouth and try to think of something to say to him. He sounds so angry.

God, I don’t know what to do.

“Yeah,” he says bitterly. “You don’t need us for shit anymore, do you? You don’t even care, Nicole. You just do what you want and leave everyone worried sick, wondering where you are. After the shit you pulled!”

Tears fill my eyes again. I try to say something-anything. Heck, even an apology would do. But it’s like my vocal cords are frozen. I can’t even move.

“You know what?” he says in a lower voice. “I won’t get into this with you. Fuck you, Nicole. Do whatever you want.”

He ends the call, and I finally breathe again. I drop the phone on my bed and sit right on the edge of it. I slap my forehead a few times. I should’ve said something.

Why didn’t I? Why am I such a coward?

I might just ruin our relationship for good. After this, maybe there won’t be anything left.

Do I really want that?

No.

But I don’t know what else to do.