Wild Nights With My Brother's Ex-Best Friend novel Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

NICOLE

The event is finally happening.

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Thanks to Haley’s connections, we managed to secure a venue last minute, and it’s none the than a performance hall downtown owned by one of her college friends.

We’ve worked tirelessly since yesterday, but we made it.

Honestly, looking around makes me so damn proud of myself, and I’m overcome with grief, in a sense. When Ma was alive, the preparations were all on her. I’d help out, and so would Haley, but she loved what she did. It kept her busy and distracted her from the pain she felt all the time. The point is she’d get things done and then the three of us would stand with our hands on our hips, looking around at all the pretty decorations.

I wish she were here. Plain and simple.

Haley puts an arm around me. It’s like she senses I need support right now. “Hey, chin up. We made it and there’s no time for tears.”

My hand moves to my cheek immediately. I didn’t even realize I was crying. “Oh, crap.”

She tilts her head to the side and says, “I’m super proud of you, Nicole. I know your mother would be, too.”

Haley and I hug. I’m so thankful for her support. She’s been helping me from the very start, and I know she cares about this. It’s clear to see from the effort she puts into all this.

I spend some time walking around and welcoming people. Most of these faces are familiar to me, but some people are new and are here for the first time.

The oncologist, Dr. Miriam, arrives, and we talk for a bit. She was also close to Ma, so I’d see her during these events all the time.

Everything seems to be going well until I spot someone walking into the venue, and that someone is none other than Roman.

For a terrifying moment, I forget how to breathe. He looks so out of place here. I watch—in slow motion—as he stands behind the lines of chairs, leaning his back against the wall. There are pink and white balloons above his head, and the view is almost comical.

But then I remember that there’s nothing to laugh about here-Haley can’t see him.

He shouldn’t be here.

I excuse myself and make my way toward him, my eyes never leaving his face. Roman’s looking around, so it doesn’t take long for him to spot me. A wicked grin curves his lips as I approach him. I’m afraid of even looking around and making eye contact with Haley.

I only hope she’s not paying attention to us.

Chapter 22

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“What are you doing here?” I whisper harshly once I’m close enough to him. “Are you crazy!?”

In a normal voice, he answers, “You asked me to come, remember? When we met at the bar?”

That was so long ago that no, I don’t remember. Dr. Miriam is now standing near the mic, and everyone starts to grab a seat. With a heart threatening to beat right out of my chest, I look around for Haley. Thankfully, she’s in the front row of seats and isn’t looking this way.

“You can’t be here, Roman.”

“Why?” he challenges as his eyes search mine. “What are you afraid of, Nikki?”

I look around desperately. Dammit. I’ll have to leave the venue to continue this conversation with him. Dr. Miriam starts to talk, and I grab Roman’s hand and practically drag him out the door. He walks deliberately slowly to provoke me.

“You’re a real jerk for doing this, you know that?” I say sharply.

“I don’t get you at all,” he says instead. “I asked you when the event would be and you gave me a date. Why would you do that when you didn’t want me to show up?”

“Because!” I groan, stopping to face him. We’re in the narrow corridor that leads to the bathrooms and there isn’t anyone around. “I don’t think when you’re around me, Roman.”

He seems amused by my answer. “That’s not my fault, is it?”

“My brother’s girlfriend is in there.”

“So?”

I place my hands on my hips. “She might not know who you are, but she asked me about you the other day.”

Roman appears confused, then nods slowly. “Okay, then why is it a problem if she sees us together, then? She doesn’t know who I am, like you said.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

“Nikki,” he begins sternly, “you’re not making any sense.”

“Please, just go.”

“No.”

“Roman!”

“I came here to see you, and that’s what I intend to do,” he answered as his gaze rakes over my body. “You look fucking gorgeous and sexy in that dress. Come here.”

The way he says those words makes my knees weak. “No, Roman.”

He stretches his arms and grabs me. I crash against his chest, and then he makes me turn around so his

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Chapter 22

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erection is pressed against my lower back. “See what you do to me? And when I drop everything and come here to see you, you want me to leave.”

My resolve is faltering like it always does when he says these things to me. I close my eyes as a wave of agony crashes into me. I’m missing the event. If someone walks past, they’ll see us. This is highly inappropriate. He’s practically rubbing his bulge against me. “Roman, damn you. Let me go.”

His lips find the sweet spot behind my car and my core pulses with need. Before I know it, his hands are on my breasts. “I wanted to find out more about breast cancer. See how you’re ruining my day?”

I chortle. “You’re so full of shit.”

He moves his hands around, rubbing my breasts until my nipples are two sharp points. Weakly, I say his name. “Roman.”

“Gotta make sure you don’t have any lumps,” he murmurs in my ear.

“That’s not how you do it,” I practically moan.

“How am I supposed to know the right way when I’m not in there, learning more?” he counters. His hands move lower down my body, and his right hand settles over my mound. Gently, he moves his hand down, caressing me. I have to bite my lip to stop myself from moaning.

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