Wild Nights With My Brother’s Ex-Best Friend novel Chapter 141

NICOLE

When I leave work, I stop by Mason’s apartment before going home because I have to check up on him and I promised him I’d do so.

Though he’s doing a lot better since he left the hospital, I just feel so damned guilty whenever I think about him. I genuinely feel like it’s my fault that he’s been stabbed and nobody can change my mind. He was only at that event because of me. Angus insisted because I declined the invitation in the first place.

lock my Chevrolet Spark and head upstairs, carrying a bag of groceries under my arm to make him some soup. I make a mental note to call Roman later and tell him I’ll be late, because it slipped my mind to tell him about this in the morning, and take the stairs up to his floor.

I find the door unlocked and push it open slowly, calling his name. He knows I’m here, but I don’t want to walk in on him in an uncomfortable situation. “Mason? I’m here!”

“I’m in the living room.”

I push the door open all the way, and then close it with my hip, all while my eyes are still lowered. “I brought you some things and…”

I trail off when I see Roman standing in the middle of the living room, looking at me with a guilty expression. I’m so shocked that I nearly drop the bag of groceries. “Roman?”

Mason’s seated with a hand on his belly, right over the bandages around his wound. He looks just as uncomfortable as Roman. “He was in the neighborhood and decided to stop by to see how I was doing.”

I approach them slowly, unsure of how to act. This is definitely something that caught me off guard. “Oh, yeah?

‘Yeah,” Roman claims. “I would’ve called you, but | would’ve left soon. I didn’t know you’d be coming here.”

“Yeah, it totally slipped my mind,” l admit.

Silence falls upon us after I say this, and I have to admit that things do get pretty awkward for several seconds. It’s almost funny to see their reactions, now that I think about it. They’re both acting like they’re doing something bad and it’s killing me.

I don’t think l’ve ever seen Mason Look this guilty in all my life.

“How was your first day?” Mason asks to break the tense silence, and also to shift the attention away from the fact that he and Roman were in here…alone.

I sigh. “Just normal. Nothing out of the ordinary happened.

They’re both watching me intently now. I should be more upset about the mention of work and Angus and thatshitty ass environment, but i’m finding this situation way too funny. “How about you two?”

Roman shifts uncomfortably and so does Mason; he tries to shift into a better position on the couch.

Roman tells me, “The usual.”

Mason says, “Just whatever. I’m stuck here and can’t do shit. I don’t know. It’s starting to get on my nerves.”

“You’ll feel better in no time,” I remind him before gesturing at the bag of groceries I’m still holding. “I was thinking of making you dinner. Soup or something.”

“No, fuck that, not soup,” Mason complains. “I’ll ask for a

• burger or something. I’m tired of eating soup. My stomach’s been growling all damn day. I appreciate it, but no.”

“Mason, you have to take it easy on your stomach!”

“I don’t have to stuff my crack with food to feel a little more satisfied, but this diet of liquids is gonna kill me way before my stitches come apart from the inside. I’m sorry, I can’t do it.”

“It doesn’t have to be liquids, then,” Roman cuts in. “If you have some protein in there, we can make something. You and me. What do you say, Mason? It beats eating a greasy ass burger from some fast food joint.”

Mason looks offended. “For your information, l actually appreciate eating a greasy ass burger and fries with a colddrink. I’m not against it. I don’t give a crap about health and all that shit. I’ll end up dead either way. We üsed to stuff our faces with burgers and fries and pizza, do you remember that? And we’re still here.”

Roman joins me in the kitchen. We exchange a heated glance, but he doesn’t approach me. I think he’s hesitant because my brother is here. I smile at him a little and we start cooking. Mason happens to have a slab of meat in the fridge, and we get it in the oven after seasoning it and I slice the vegetables I bought for the soup and we sauté them.

‘ “How did things go?” Roman asks me in a low voice.

“Okay.”

“Sure?”

“Yeah.”

Twenty minutes later, the food’s ready and we place them on the coffee table. It’s a great meal. Mason’s eating with his eyes closed.

“This is the best fucking meal I’ve ever had,” he finally says. “I’m not even kidding.”

“Yeah? You believe me now? Is it better than a burger or not?”Mason cuts Roman a look. “Definitely better.”

A small smile tugs at the corners of my lips as I bring a fork filled with food up to my lips. Right now, I’m the happiest l’ve been in a long time. I glance at Roman and decide that it was worth it. All of it.

This is the best decision I could’ve made.

Everything is perfect right now. Despite everything that’s happened, I feel hopeful for what’s coming. As long as I’m surrounded by the people I love, I have something to look forward to. To fight for.

Nothing can ruin this.