Wild Nights With My Brother's Ex-Best Friend novel Chapter 77

NICOLE

I down the wine in one big gulp and Roman releases me. I slam the glass on the countertop, then start toward the exit.

I'm so upset. So damn upset that I can hardly believe my own hypocrisy. I kissed Roman not too long ago, yet I'm fuming at the sight of him with Daphne.

But it's not necessarily jealousy—I know that, too. It's more like a culmination of everything that's happened between us since the moment I walked into his office, desperate for a job, but even more desperate for any kind of connection. I know Sebastian isn't a bad person, and I know he cares about me. But the truth is we're not a fit; we were never meant to be together.

But I've reached my breaking point, and it's time I acknowledge that.

"Nicole," I hear him say behind me. We're in the middle of the whole lobby area when he catches up to me and forces me to whirl around to face him by grabbing my arm. I see mild panic in his eyes when he adds, "It's not what you think."

"No, it isn't," I say sarcastically. "Your ex is here when you told me she wouldn't be here. How's that supposed to make me feel?"

"I didn't invite her," he claims. "Trust me—I had no idea she would be here."

"But your mother did," I inform him. "That I promise you."

"Sweetheart," he says tenderly, reaching for my chin, "I can't control who comes and who doesn't. If Daphne is here, it's because she forced herself into a situation where she knew she wasn't welcome."

I can only stare back at him. He can't be this naïve. He can't.

"I'll deal with this," he promises. "I don't want you to be upset about this because it doesn't matter. She doesn't matter. She could say whatever she wants to me, and nothing would change. I would never betray you. Ever."

I place my hand over his and push it away from my face as gently as I can. "I'm sorry, Sebastian, but I'm tired of pretending that everything's fine, and I'm tired of you doing it, too."

Sebastian appears confused. "I don't get it. I'm not pretending that anything's fine, Nicole."

"Yes, you are, and you're doing it now. You're protecting your mother. She's the one who did this, and you don't seem to care at all. You keep pretending that you don't feel the tension between us. You keep forcing this situation where we're all supposed to be together when you know she can't stand me!"

"That's not true," he claims, and he sounds so confident in what he's saying. So sure of himself.

"Tell me something: Do you really think your mother's alleged apology was sincere when she invited your ex here behind your back?"

Sebastian doesn't answer me, and it's everything I need. I start to turn away, but he grabs my arm again. "Nicole, we can talk about this—"

"Sebastian," says his mother's cutting voice behind us. In no time, she's standing next to him and she's putting her hands on him. I didn't know she was listening to us. "Let her go."

His eyes widen. "Mom!"

"Let her go!" she exclaims. "Can't you see that she doesn't want you?"

Am I being unfair? A bitch? That's what I keep asking myself. When I make decisions, I'm sure of them, and then I overthink them and ask myself if I'm not overreacting.

And if Roman isn't the reason for this overreaction.

He's definitely instigating. Of course, he wants me and Sebastian to break things off. I'm not sure if his reasoning is as pure as he claims it to be. Then again, what else would it be? Why would he bother?

Roman has nothing to win from this. He got his revenge. And the worst part is that when he tells me he loves me, I believe him even though I know I shouldn't.

Roman Hayes is perhaps the most problematic person in the world. He admitted to following me here. But why am I not as concerned as I should be?

God, everything seems so clear now—I never got over him. Not as I should've. If I had, I wouldn't have been feeling this way.

I'm the most pathetic person in the world. There's no other explanation for this. I've been used. Cast aside like trash. Yet, here I am, entertaining these thoughts when I should be focusing on how to fix the relationship I have with a perfectly good man.

And Sebastian is good. He's everything Roman will never be. His family intervenes, but I know he cares.

So, why doesn't that matter?

Moments later, the door opens and I brace myself.