Wild Nights With My Brother’s Ex-Best Friend novel Chapter 50

NICOLE

I’m back to work and I think it’s safe to say that things are starting to settle down, and I don’t feel as destitute as I did several days ago.

Then again, I do have the most amazing support system in the world.

I’m trying to move on and not think about everything-taking it one day at a time has become my motto. Slowly, the weeks I spent at that crappy motel are starting to feel like a dream. The same can’t be said for my relationship with Roman, but one day, I’ll get to the point where I’ll forget I ever met him.

It helps that every time he crosses my mind, I think about the awful-and I mean awful-thing he did to Haley. She’s so sweet and it breaks my heart every time I recall what transpired between them.

I immerse myself in work completely, filling my days with planning events and updating calendars among other things. Recently, Sebastian has also asked me to filter the invitations he’s sent. If I think it’s worth it, I forward the email to him.

A few minutes after sending him one, the door of his office opens and I find him standing merely a couple of feet away from my desk. His eyes are on my face, searching as they usually do.

“Is everything alright?” I ask right away.

“Yeah, yeah,” he says quickly. “I was waiting for that invitation, so thank you for sending it over.”

I arch a brow. “You didn’t mention anything. What if I’d looked at it and thought it wasn’t worth your time?”

Sebastian gives a careless shrug, his eyes glinting with mischief. “Then I probably wouldn’t have gone.”

I have to hold back a barking laugh. I’ve gotten to know him a lot better since my return, and honestly? I think he’s the most easygoing person in the world. I’ve never met anyone like him.

“Are you feeling alright?” he asks. “Remember, you can always head on home if you’re not feeling alright.”

He tells me this every single day without fail, and I appreciate him so much for it. But I couldn’t dream of taking advantage of him in such a way. I messed up when I abandoned my post here without giving word of my whereabouts, and he was nice enough to take me back.

I say to him, “Thank you, but I’m doing great.”

Sebastian nods slowly, then this look enters his eyes. “Have you spoken to Katie recently?”

My heart tightens when he mentions her name. God, I have to pay her a visit. The last time I saw her was at the dinner she hosted, when she told me her cancer’s back.

I wonder if Sebastian knows, but for some reason, I don’t think so.

“No, I admit. “Why? Is everything alright with her?”

“She’s been strange, he remarks, moving closer to my desk and folding his arms. “Every time I see her, I have this feeling like something’s bothering her.”

This confirms my suspicions-he doesn’t know. It breaks my heart that she hasn’t found it in herself to tell the people she loves about this. No, I have to visit her. It’s been decided.

I’ll do it this weekend. Someone has to check on her. Plus, she’s done so much for me. It would be absolutely horrible of me not to support her in any way I can. I love Katie.

“Katie’s always been very self-assured,” I remind him. “When she’s ready, she’ll say what it is.”

Sebastian’s eyes meet mine, and for a fraction of a second, I worry that he’ll see the truth written all over my face. But then he sighs and nods. “You’re right. We’re all just overreacting. You’re right.”

When lunchtime rolls around, I leave the office building to meet with Esmeralda downstairs. Yesterday, she and I agreed to have lunch and catch up. I meet her in her car, and the first thing I notice is that there’s something off about her.

Esmeralda nods solemnly. “I’ll definitely think about this. Armand…he’s so inconsequential sometimes, you know? He doesn’t take anything seriously and I don’t know if that’s what I want for me.”

Esmeralda quickly changes the subject to the trip once the food arrives. There’s a twinkle in her eye, and excitement is emanating from her. “You’re going to love it and we’ll have so much fun! We’re going to this beachy festival everyone always goes to during this time of the year. Who knows? Maybe we can meet a few guys and forget all this shit.”

“I don’t think so,” I remark. “I think I’m swearing off men for a while.”

“No, definitely not,” she claims, setting her glass down. “You’re young, Nicole. We both are. This is the time to explore and have fun, okay? I used to tell you this even when you were with that waste of existence.”

The mention of Dan makes me shudder. I’ll have to testify against him in a couple of months and I’m not looking forward to any of it. I never wanted this, but he made his choice and now he’ll have to live with it. I won’t have any mercy on him, either.

He made me miscarry. I’m sure this will haunt me for years to come.

“I don’t know, Esmeralda. Why does fun have to involve being with a man anyway? We can just sit back and relax. Just the two of us. It really doesn’t have to be all about finding someone.”

Esmeralda shrugs and winks at me. “We’ll just have to see, won’t we?”

I shake my head at her and stab the asparagus on my plate with my fork.

Oddly, I’m actually really looking forward to this trip now, too. Every time I think about it, I feel as excited as she sounds. Who knows? Maybe it’s exactly what I need to just let all of this go and move on with my life.

Yes. Nothing sounds more amazing than that.