Wild Nights With My Brother’s Ex-Best Friend novel Chapter 127

NICOLE

I step out of the shower and find Roman waiting for me. He’s sitting on the edge of the bed with a towel around his waist-he showered in the other room-and as soon as he sees me, he stands up.

He’s definitely calmer than he was before we got to the penthouse. I can even say that I see a whole lot of remorse written all over his face.

Yes, he should feel ashamed of his behavior as of late.

I don’t even recognize him anymore.

“Could we talk?”

“If you’re going to tell me the truth of what’s really happening to you, Roman, then sure. Otherwise, forget about it.”

He closes the distance separating us in a few strides. “Nikki…l don’t know how else to tell you that it’s the same old bullshit that’s plaguing me. Nothing more, nothing less. I’ve got problems, yes, but they’re not significant enough for me to share with you.”

I turn my head to the side, not sure if I believe him or not. He cups my cheek in his hand and forces me to look into his eyes. “Tell me you believe me.”

“I don’t.”

A beat of silence passes, then, “What can I do to reassure you? You know I’d do anything, Nikki.”

I search his eyes. God, now I’m confused. Is he telling the truth or not?

Am I exaggerating? I don’t know anything anymore, but he’s definitely convincing me. His arms go around me and he pulls me toward his hard body. “Please, baby. I hate it when we’re fighting like this.”

“But you’re acting weird, Roman.”

“I promise you that whatever it could’ve been is solved now, okay?

We’re good. I don’t want you to worry about a thing.”Finally, after an eternity, I nod, and his smile is so bright that I find myself smiling, too. I kiss him back fervently, savoring the taste of his lips and the fresh scent of his shower gel. I can’t resist him, and when I do, it’s never for long.

***

Roman drives me back to the place where | left my car parked along the road, which is outside the lawyer’s building. He turns in his seat to face me fully, and smiles. “You’re sure you’ll be okay?”

“Yeah. I am. I’ll call you when I can.”

“Ill call you.”

“Suit yourself.”

He presses his lips to mine in a brief kiss. “When I see you again, I want to know exactly what you were doing here with Sebastian. Will you tell me?”

“If I feel like it,” I joke before getting out of the car. Though I feel better about the fact that we’ve reconciled, I still have this feeling like things aren’t exactly the way they should be.

I don’t know. Maybe it’s paranoia.

I drive to Mason’s apartment. I’ve had a hell of a day so far and I’m ready to get into bed and sleep. But on my way there, my phone rings so loudly that my heart skips a beat and I already know it’s something. bad before I close my hand around it.

It’s The Bruiser.

Since the day we met at that restaurant, I haven’t had word from him and I was almost starting to think that he was determined to leave me alone. Apparently, I’m wrong. I answer the call after letting out a sigh he doesn’t hear.

“Nicole. It’s your father.”

Please never repeat that sentence again.

“Why? I’m your father, aren’t I? Look, I’m calling to find out whether oc not you’re going to show up at the gala.”

“I already gave you my answer.”

And I have to find out who the hell this person is, and if it’s truly Haley, I have to find out what she expects will be the outcome of this.

When I reach the bottom of the stairs, I realize that it’s truly Haley.

“I saw you!” I yell at her. “Don; ‘t even bother trying to run because I’ll catch up! I’ll follow you to the depths of hell if I have to, bitch!”

When we get outside, I quicken my pace and slam into her back, sending her crashing into the side of one of the parked cars. She whirls around to glare at me. We’re standing only a few feet away from each other.

“What the fuck is your problem?” I spit. “What do you think you’ll accompli, Haley!?”

She looks thinner than I remember, and her overall appearance is just… rough. When she doesn’t answer me, I say, “I’ll call the police on you!

Are you crazy? Do you really want to kill me? Why?”

“Why?” she echoes. “You ruined my life! I’m living on the streets! I have nowhere to go! I lost everything because of you!”

I scoff. “Me? You’re really blaming me? You whore. You lost everything because you’re a bad person! This has nothing to do with me! I didn’t force you to play with my brother’s heart! I didn’t force you to try your chances with Roman! You have a lot of audacity!””It’s no problem,” she hisses. She looks so wild, it’s crazy. I never thought I’d ever see her like this. “I’ve been following all your lives closely, since I have nothing better to do. Yes, the notes were meant to scare you, and I was planning on hurting you, Nicole. And don’t call me a whore! You’re the whore!”

“Screw you, Haley! Get the hell out of here or I’m calling the cops! And if I ever receive a note like this, you’re done for, do you understand me!?”

Haley laughs. It’s a dry, cruel sound. “I wanted to hurt you, but knowing that you’ll suffer is enough for me. You have no idea what’s coming at you!”

I blink and she starts walking away. I shake my head as I watch her go.

She’s crazy, Genuinely crazy.

What did she even mean by that?