Wild Nights With My Brother’s Ex-Best Friend novel Chapter 56

NICOLE

When I realize that I have absolutely no way of getting out of here, my heart sinks, because the only chance I have of getting back home involves calling my brother.

And I would hate to do that.

Spending the night here is out of the question. Things between Esmeralda and me aren’t good at all. My brother was right. I should never have agreed to the trip. It doesn’t help that I had a bad feeling about it the whole time.

I tried convincing myself that it would be alright, but deep down, I didn’t want to come. And now, this has happened, and I feel awful.

Before heading up to the room to grab my things, I stop by the bar to have something to drink. I opt for the cheapest alcoholic beverage on the menu–a glass of red wine. Yes, there’s beer, but I’ve never been a fan.

Drinking is really the last thing I should be doing, but tonight was awful and I need something to help me take off the edge. Besides, it’s not like I’m going to do anything reckless. I need liquid courage to call Mason and tell him how I fucked up once again.

Sigh

This is a nightmare.

I’m distractedly sipping my drink when a man moves to stand right beside me. I don’t look at his face, but I note that he’s wearing a white fitted t–shirt and not the white dress shirt that Roman was wearing, so it isn’t him.

I don’t know what I’d do if he followed me.

“A martini, please. Dry.”

The bartender nods, and he sits right beside me on the stool. I have another sip, and this time, I feel his eyes on me. I pointedly ignore him, but then it becomes impossible to do so when I hear him say, “I know you.”

I snap my head in his direction and immediately recognize him. My face colors, and I covertly look around to ensure that Roman isn’t anywhere nearby. I find it hard to believe that I’d just run into his friend. This country is enormous, for crying out loud, and what are the odds that we’d all end up here?

“Do you remember my name?” he asks with a broad smile. His teeth are incredibly white.

“No, I don’t, but I remember you,” I say, trying to sound polite but not putting much effort into any part of this conversation either. I met him at the sex club. He greeted Roman. “I’m surprised you recognized me, considering I had a mask on.”

He chuckles. “Those masks don’t do shit, but in my defense, I’ve always been good with faces. And yours is one I’d never forget. The name’s Blaine, by the way.”

I don’t know how to answer this, so I say nothing and hope that he’ll drop the subject. The last thing I need to be remembering right now is that night at Inferna.

“So, what brings you here?” he questions.

I shrug. “I came for the festivities, I guess.”

“This is the party of the year and you don’t sound enthusiastic at all,” he chuckles.

I glance at him before saying in response, “I guess I’m not really into any of this.”

The bartender slides him his drink, and he watches me while drinking. There’s something about his eyes that I don’t like at all. I don’t like how he’s looking at me. This man, Blaine, is fairly handsome. His hair is pitch black, darker than Roman’s, and his eyes are a piercing blue. He looks like a husky, if that makes sense.

His gaze is piercing.

“What are you into?” he asks in a low voice that I assume is meant to be seductive.

Thankfully, we’re interrupted, but not by an ideal person. “Blaine, where on earth is Roman? I’ve been looking all over for him!”

Carmen Lowett.

This whole evening has to be a fever dream.

I turn my face away quickly, but we already made eye contact. She stands next to Blaine and he answers that he hasn’t seen Roman at all. Her eyes are on me, though. I can feel it. I try to sip my drink nonchalantly, but her presence infuriates me in ways I can’t explain.

I shouldn’t hate her for the things Roman did.

That’s exactly why I hate myself.

“I know you,” Carmen suddenly says, and this time, I turn my head to look at her. She’s watching me through slitted eyes. “I met you once before. You work for Roman’s friend. His secretary, I think.”

“Yes,” I say curtly, wanting this conversation to end now.

But I take a deep, steadying breath and focus on what I have to face. I have to grab my things and get out of here.

I’m so distracted, though, that I forgot that Esmeralda is the one who had the keycard. I curse and kick the door in frustration once I get to the room. Fuck, what am I supposed to do now? I have my handbag with me, and it has everything I could need. Only the clothes I brought along with my towel and toiletries are in the room.

Should I call Esmeralda for this? Immediately, I think no. I can’t call her. Not after the things we said to each other.

Fuck it. I’ll just have to leave it all.

I’ve had enough.

When I return to the lobby, Roman is exactly where I left him. Again, I act like I don’t even see him, and he follows me. Gosh, it’s the most frustrating thing in the world. He sees that I’m heading toward the exit and asks, “Are you leaving, is that it? If that’s the case, then let me drive you back.”

“Over my dead body,” I practically bark. “I’d rather die!”

“So, you’re not going to take anything I said into consideration?” he has the audacity to ask.

I reach the exit and fish my phone out of my bag. I have to call Mason. Roman stops beside me, and I steal a glance at him. His eyes are on my face, and he’s watching me expectantly. I say to him, “Leave me alone. Get it through your head–I never want to see you again.”

“I won’t give up,” he claims fiercely. “I need you to at least know that everything I said was true.”

“That’s your choice,” I answer before glancing over his shoulder. I felt someone watching me and I was right. If looks could kill, I’d be dead by now. My eyes return to his face and I say dryly, “Your fiancée is waiting for you over there.”

Then, I walk away.

Once I’m alone, I call Mason.

He answers on the first ring.