Wild Nights With My Brother's Ex-Best Friend novel Chapter 76

NICOLE

Endless thoughts are racing through my mind, each more troubled than the next.

It's like I've just dissected Haley inside of my mind and I'm pulling her apart, trying to get to the very core of her. She's someone I once called a friend—no, a sister. Haley was going to marry my brother, and I'd be the bridesmaid. Her only bridesmaid, she once said, smiling at me tenderly.

How's it possible that it was all an act?

I know what I heard, and when he showed me the video of her entering his apartment building, I knew he wasn't lying. I saw her in that dress—there's no way around it.

Then, there was the strange question she asked me a few days ago. She wanted to know whether I was still talking to Roman, and she seemed so strange when she asked it.

By God. Was it...jealousy? A streak of possessiveness? Is it possible that we've been living with someone we don't even know? A liar?

I'm troubled. Deeply so.

I'm not even paying attention to this show that Sebastian's been raving about all day. I'm here with him now, yet my mind is in a distant place.

Roman was right. He didn't lie to me.

Haley's truly crazy and that means my poor brother is in danger and doesn't know it. God, she's given his heart and soul to that woman. In his mind, they'll get married and Haley adores him.

How's he going to react when he finds out the truth?

I don't want to be on this ship anymore. I have this need to go home and fix everything that's broken, starting with his relationship with Haley. He's my brother—there's no way I'll let him continue to be deceived like this.

I know I'll hurt him, but wouldn't it be worse if he found this out from someone who isn't me? And what if he discovers that I knew about the whole thing? He'll never forgive me.

I look up, deciding to finally pay attention to my surroundings. Sebastian is no longer standing beside me—he's standing a few steps away, talking to his mother about something. When her eyes meet mine, she gives me a withering look before paying attention to her son again.

And I don't know why, but something about the whole situation sickens me.

I feel...dejected.

Folding my arms, I start looking around, anger and something else burning inside of me. This deeply rooted dissatisfaction with how things turned out for me, along with this restlessness that's taken hold of me since I spoke to Roman.

I'm looking around just casually when I spot him. Shock washes over me, spreading goosebumps all over me.

He's right by the exit, leaning against the wall, and there's a small smile on his lips. It's almost knowing. The sight of it disturbs me. I don't like the smugness I see written all over his face.

Especially after the things he said to me, specifically about him being the only man for me.

Or something along those lines. I was only half-listening.

I'm furious at the sight of him, but this anger only serves to mask my fear. Because something has shifted since our last conversation, and it's a change that shouldn't be happening.

Nothing should've changed. Roman still betrayed and used me in the worst possible way. He's no better than Haley. In fact, they're so alike that it would only be right to say that they deserve each other.

But why is there a part of me that's telling me he wouldn't have tried so hard to convince me if he didn't care?

I lower my eyes and try not to think about it. I can't entertain these thoughts. I can't fall for the same trap again.

I turn to Sebastian again and feel even worse when I see him still talking to his mother. I'm surrounded by so many people, but I've never felt lonelier.

I need a drink.

I push through the crowd. There's a bar on the other side of the room, but I'll have to walk past Roman and I know he'll follow me. Oh, I know that deep in my heart.

"You know as well as I do that the pretending ended a long time ago."

"I don't know anything about you. I can't...I can't do this."

Roman catches my wrist before I have a chance to escape. I have my glass of wine in my other hand and I contemplate throwing the drink in his face, but this aggressive thought fades away when he asks, "How did you think I got here?"

I frown. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"How am I here?" he questions, which makes me realize that I didn't wonder this before.

"You...followed us?"

"I did," he admits. "I knew this would be maybe my only chance to win you back and prove to you that you're the only woman I could ever want. I knew my chance had come when Haley sent me that text, wanting to talk. I can show it to you, if you'd like. Then, Sebastian himself told me you'd be here, and it was like the universe was sending me a sign. And mind you, I don't believe in any of that shit."

I'm staring deeply into his eyes when I ask, "What am I supposed to do with this information? Genuinely?"

His breath fans my face. So familiar and warm. "You're supposed to take it in, Nikki. That's what. Sebastian doesn't care about you as much as he should. I don't care how great you think he is."

I shake my head. His touch lightens, but he's still refusing to let me go, and I don't like how my arm is tingling. "You don't know that."

"Yeah? Who's that over there, then? Hm? Who's the woman he's talking to who keeps touching him while he doesn't do shit to stop her?"

I frown. "You're talking about his mother?"

Roman smirks. "That's not his fucking mother."

He turns his body so I can get a look. My eyes land on Daphne and I barely have time to react to her when I make eye contact with Sebastian himself.