Wild Nights With My Brother’s Ex-Best Friend novel Chapter 148

NICOLE

One whole month.

That’s how long I haven’t heard from Roman.

He hasn’t called either, so maybe he’s giving me the time l need. Or maybe I was right about everything I accused him of. Maybe he purposely lied right to my face and manipulated me, all in the name of playing a game that he’s probably grown tired of.

Either way, I’m too focused on work to pay attention to him, and I’m still hurt.

Angus has been working me almost to death. He wants me to get the hang of things quickly, and I’m not sure what his hurry is. I do what I’m told, though, and to be fair, all of this has distracted me pretty well.

I don’t have t/me to think about my pain, and that’s a bonus.

But there’s also another way that I’ve been distracting myself from all this. I look up from my computer screen and stare at the clock on the wall. It’s a few minutes past noon, which means it’s time for me to leave for lunch.

It’s the one part of my day that I look forward to the most because I get to meet Sebastian in a restaurant nearby and we just spend the entire two hours of my lunch break…talking. It has been doing me a world of good, and though in the beginning it kind of felt strange to confide in a man I had a relationship with that ended so badly, Sebastian is such an easygoing person that it’s easy for me to push the past to the back of my mind.

The restaurant is just across the street, and when get there, I find him seated in his usual place. He smiles at me when we make eye contact, then stands up.

“How are you?”

“Great. You?”

“Never better,” he admits. We sit down, and when the waitress approaches us, I order water and my usual garden salad with a side of grilled chicken. Sebastian also has water, but his meal is heartier than mine—he likes the lamb shanks they serve here.

“So,” he begins once our waters arrive, “have you thought about what yu’ll do with the shares Katie left you?”

“No, to be honest. I don’t think I’ll sell them. I should just keep them in case things go wrong with Angus.”

“Do you have an idea of what you’ll do with the money?”

“No? I know it doesn’t seem like I have much of a plan… you know what? I don’t.”

“It’s alright,” he smiles. “You have time to decide. Just let me know if you need help with anything. And your brother? He’s alright now?””Never better.”

Mason was so anxious to get back to work and start living his life again. It’s amazing, watching him get back to normal. I’d say things between us are better than ever, but I was surprised when I asked him about his girlfriend and he admitted that he broke things off with her before he was stabbed.

I had no idea that happened.

Sebastian interrupts my train of thought when he suddenly drops his fork on his plate noisily. It seemed to have just slipped. His eyes meet mine from across the table and I frown when asking, “Is everything okay?”

“Nicole…” he starts.

“There’s something I have to say to

you.”

I get worried right away. Usually, he’s never this urgent with anything. We just sit and talk about our childhoods and our work, lives. I’ve never even brought up Roman, even though I’m sure he knows that Roman is the one who broke my heart.

“..I now that maybe this might not be the right time, but I still have feelings for you. I think about you every second of every day, and this is the one part of my day that | look forward to the most.”

It’s like he just ripped my heart from my chest and is now squeezing it tight in his hand. I don’t know how to react to this confession.”I’m willing to take it slowly if you want to,” he says in a voice barely above a whisper. “In fact, I’m willing to walt for you my whole life. I know I let you down before, but l’ve change. I’m not the same guy I was all those months ago.

“Are you alright? Would you like me to come with you?”

I tuck my hair behind my ears, flustered. “No, no. I can

– handle it. I’m just…I’m so sorry. Maybe we can…finish this conversation tomorrow. I’m just so sorry, but I have to go.”

I offer to pay my bill, but he refuses like he does every day. His mood has shifted, though, and he doesn’t look happy or even hopeful anymore, and I hate that things had to happen this way. Just as I’m turning away, he calls my name.

When I face him again, he’s standing and making his way toward me. His question scares me and I don’t know how to react to it.

“Is Roman the reason why you’re leaving? Is

it him?”

I don’t know how he possibly guessed that, but I’m not ready to admit that to him just yet. I Lower my eyes, and he immediately apologizes. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked that.

“I have to go. I’m really sorry.”

“Nicole?” At the sound of his voice, I look back at him again. “Take care of yourself. Don’t let him inside your head. Don’t let him hurt you again?”

I can only stare back at him before heading to the exit again and getting in my car.

I feel like the worst person in the world right now.