Wild Nights With My Brother's Ex-Best Friend novel Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

NICOLE

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I don’t find the strength to get up from bed in the morning.

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Last night’s events have just crashed into my mind with an unshakable force, and they’ve settled into the pit of my stomach like an immovable object. I feel dirty. Foolish. Naive.

Every time I think about Roman, it’s like I’ve been stabbed.

And then he even had the audacity to accuse me of knowing! I don’t know why I didn’t slap him when I had the chance. That’s his opinion of me.

I can’t stay in bed all day, and I’m tired of thinking about him constantly. So, I stand up, shower, get dressed in comfortable clothing, and head out. Haley’s still asleep, so I could grab us both some breakfast and still make it back on time.

The bakery is just around the corner, so I walk there. It feels great to be outside, breathing in the fresh air. Even though my life is falling apart, I don’t want to feel that way.

“Nicole.”

My step falters and I groan before continuing. Dan runs to catch up to me. “So, you’re just going to blatantly ignore me now?”

“Dan, I don’t have the time for this.”

“Why? Are you seeing someone?”

I ignore him and keep walking, hoping that he’ll give up when I reach the bakery. No such luck. I push the glass door open and he’s right behind me. I think of saying something to him about how embarrassing he’s being, but decide against it.

I won’t entertain him.

“You didn’t answer my question, Nicole,” he grits out as we head to the back, where I pick some bread and fresh pastries to take back home.

“I don’t intend to. I’m not asking you if you’re with someone else, am I?”

“That’s because I’d never betray you that way!”

I whirl around to look at him. “You wouldn’t be betraying me because we’re not together anymore, Dan. Jesus, just quit this already. I don’t understand why you’re acting this way!”

He steps closer to me, and his eyes search mine deeply. “Because I love you and I’m not ready to give you up, Nicole. You fight for the things you love.”

“Yeah, but that thing needs to be willing,” I mention.

15:13 Wed, Oct 22

Chapter 12

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Dan steps back and tilts his head at me. Loudly, he says, “You are with someone else!”

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I look around the bakery, thankful that it’s just me and the baker. “Will you stop it!? And what if I am? It’s time for you to move on because I already have!”

His voice becomes low. “Don’t mess with me, Nicole.”

“Or what, Dan?”

He gives me a bewildered look before heading toward the exit, finally leaving me alone. I just can’t take Dan seriously. He’s like a child, honestly. This is one of the reasons why I ended things with him.

He takes everything so badly and so personally, and he’ll talk and complain about it endlessly, talking my ear off about the matter. And then, the day will come when he’ll just push it to the back of his mind and never mention it again.

I’m sure the same will happen with this breakup. What I won’t do is encourage him or let him think that there’s any coming back from this.

The baker-her name is Catherine-gives me a long look before handing me my box of pastries. “You’ve got to be careful there. It seems you’ve got a problem in your hands.”

“Oh, he’ll be fine,” I say, waving my hand dismissively. “I wouldn’t worry too much. He just has a hard time letting go.”

She fixes me her one eye-the other is behind an eyepatch she’s always worn. “You need to be careful with men like him. I had an abusive ex once, and it cost me.”

Catherine raises the eyepatch with no warning, showing me her blind, scarred eye beneath. My eyes widen as I take it in. I’ve never seen it before today.

“I’m sorry that happened to you.”

Catherine nods stiffly and turns away from me. I pay for my things, then head out. Thankfully, Dan is nowhere close. God, I shudder every time I recall her eye. Dan isn’t like that, though. He’d never hurt me to that extent.

He just needs to get it in his head that we’re not going to get back together.

I start walking back, my mind in a faraway place, so far that I don’t notice a car driving slowly next to me on the road until the window rolls down and the driver says my name,

And he doesn’t call me Nicole.

He calls me, “Nikki.”

I snap my head in his direction. Shock courses through me and I can’t believe this is happening. His beautiful eyes search mine. “I just want to talk to you.”

No. Hell no. We’ve got nothing else to say to each other. I quicken my pace to get as far away from him as possible. He keeps following me. “Nikki, come on. Can we both be adults about this?”

15:13 Wed, Oct 22

Chapter 12

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He’s calling me immature? I’m running from him because I’m genuinely scared.

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In a flash, Roman parks his car and gets out, racing after me. He grabs my arm before I reach the zebra crossing that will take me to Mason’s place. “Hey. Just wait, alright?”

“We have nothing else to say to each other!”

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