Wild Nights With My Brother's Ex-Best Friend novel Chapter 2

NICOLE

In the end, we exchange numbers—I had his number, and I simply gave him mine—and I call it a night after trying and failing to recruit sponsors.

I unlock my small, rundown Chevrolet Spark and sit with my hands on the steering wheel for a handful of minutes. God, I never thought that accepting this invitation would end up with me seeing Roman after all these years.

One of our sponsors, Mrs. Katie Glennville—a woman who's since lost all her wealth yet managed to retain her connections—got me on the guest list for this gala. Otherwise, I'd never dream of making it to such an event. I almost didn't go because I didn't have the right kind of clothes. This little black dress I'm wearing belongs to Haley. It's not even mine.

Honestly, I don't know how I feel about this.

I press my key into the ignition, start the car, and head straight home. Despite the night being cool, I roll the windows down and enjoy the feel of the wind blowing through my hair. This calms me after my interaction with Roman.

God, I don't even want to think about him. Just the mere thought of accepting his offer makes me feel like such a shitty sister. If Mason finds out about this, he'll be genuinely upset. I know him. He doesn't take betrayal lightly.

I park the car outside his apartment building, which is where I've been living for the past three years, since Ma died. We decided to sell our family home so we could take the cash and do something meaningful with it. At that point, I was already done with college, and though I could've probably gone to grad school, I decided to reinvest the money back into the charity.

Newsflash: Nothing helped save it, and I lost all the money from the sale.

Mason, on the other hand, invested it in the accounting firm where he works, and he's been doing pretty well. Honestly, I feel like crap for invading his privacy the way I am. He should be enjoying his space with Haley, but I'm there, like a stone lodged in their shoes.

That's exactly why doing this thing with Roman feels so wrong—my brother's the one person in the world who supports me without fail. I can't betray him like this, and yes, accepting help from his ex-best friend would be a betrayal.

But we need the sponsorship, or our mother's work will be flushed down the drain along with all the efforts we ever put into it.

We help so many women with emotional and financial support. Can I really bear for it to end because I'm refusing a sponsorship that could save lives?

Sigh...decisions, decisions.

I lock the car as I head toward the entrance of the building, but I hear the sound of my name being called, and when I turn my head, I see Dan heading toward me.

"Not you again," I say, tired by the mere sight of him already. "Dan, we've talked about this. You've got to stop this!"

Dan's the first and only boyfriend I've ever had. We started dating during my second year in college, and we broke up six months ago because I couldn't stand how controlling he was.

And even now, after our relationship has come to an end, he's still doing the exact same stuff that made me break up with him in the first place.

"Dammit, Nicole, just listen to me," he pleads as he makes his way toward me. "Could you do that?"

"I've been listening to you this entire time and I'm not interested, Dan. Please. Stop pestering me all the time and accept that we're much happier apart."

"I'm not happier," he says, his pale blue eyes blinking without any emotion behind them whatsoever. Compared to Roman's eyes, they might as well be a brick wall.

Oh, why am I starting to make comparisons now? What's wrong with me?

"Well, I am. Does that count for anything?" I start toward the building. "Please, stop it. Don't make me call the cops on you."

"Nicole, I love you!"

I ignore him and head inside. I greet the porter warmly, and the middle-aged man says to me, "That guy's been there for hours. I think you should contact the authorities, Miss Monroe. I know his type, and they're dangerous."

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