Wild Nights With My Brother's Ex-Best Friend novel Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Chapter 40

NICOLE

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“Daphne is my ex,” Sebastian explains after a few beats of silence. “She and I broke things off about three months ago.”

“That’s not too long ago,” I comment.

“It feels like it is,” he claims as he turns his head to look at me. “Things were ugly for us, and I just wanted closure. I still do. I don’t understand why my mother would invite someone who cheated on me.”

I nearly choke on the gasp that was going to slip from my lips, but I’ve managed not to make a sound. I don’t mean to make him uncomfortable in any way.

He’s confiding in me, and I want him to know that I take that very seriously.

“I’m sorry about that,” is the only polite thing I can think to say.

Sebastian nods at me, then smiles a little. “Then again, that’s my family for you.”

“I take it your mother likes her?”

“Yes. She always has. Daphne is her best friend’s daughter, after all, and she’s always envisioned this big wedding for us. Something big enough to hit the tabloids. She practically forced me to be with her. I wouldn’t have minded if she had been faithful to me. I’m a loyal guy. I expect the same.”

“Of course,” I nod. For some reason, this conversation is reminding me of Roman, and it’s making me feel…it’s hard to describe the feeling. My skin is crawling and I’m annoyed, but at the same time, I know I have no right to be. Not here, at least.

I should be over the whole thing by now. I’ve been avoiding all thoughts of him for so many days.

“I hope the tension didn’t spoil your dinner.”

“No, of course not. I barely noticed it.”

“Barely?” he smiles.

I shrug and smile, too. I don’t want to make him uncomfortable, I spot Katie on the other side of the pool, and she makes her way toward us slowly. “I hope you enjoyed dinner, Nicole! I know we didn’t have much of a chance to talk.”

“It was delicious,” I say before standing up. Sebastian does, too. “Thank you for inviting me. That tiramisu!”

“I’ll prepare a little something for you to take with you,” she winks. “I’ve got more than enough.”

I don’t decline, even if it would be polite. I definitely want to take a piece of that home with me.

“Oh, yes. Sebastian, Cynthia would like to speak with you. She’s been looking for you.”

15:24 Wed, Oct 22 A

Chapter 40

58

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Sebastian nods curtly before turning to me with a smile. Katie and I sit back down on her porch swing. Silence falls upon us, but only for a few seconds. Then she says, “I take it he explained to you who that woman.

was.”

“Yes,” is all I say, not wanting to go into detail.

Katie sighs. “Cynthia. She would’ve been a better person if she weren’t always focused on managing everyone’s lives. I told her this countless times.”

Still, I don’t comment. Katie turns her head to look at me, then bumps her shoulder into mine. “You and Sebastian, huh?”

I blush and immediately get defensive. “He’s my boss, Katie. Our relationship is polite, nothing more.”

“Yes, sure,” she replies with a playful roll of her eyes. “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t criticize you. I think my godson needs someone like you.”

I scoff lightly. “I’m a mess, Katie. You know that as well as I do.”

“Well, so is he, in some ways. And there’s no reason why you can’t both grow and find new ways of dealing with your dilemmas.”

I laugh at this. Katie is quite the comedian. “Yeah, right.”

Another beat of silence passes, and then she asks, “Speaking of dilemmas. Have you managed to contact your family yet?”

“I’ll do it soon,” I promise. “I’ve been talking myself through the whole thing. I’ll just go for it. If Mason decides that he’ll never speak to me again, at least I’ll have tried.”

“That’s the spirit,” she remarks. “Family is important, Nicole. Yes, we have our fights and misunderstandings. Countless disagreements. But at the end of the day, they’re all we have. And they’re people who would never abandon you in your toughest moments.”

I nod.

“I invited everyone here tonight because I’m starting chemo in a few weeks,” she mentions.

Shock is written all over my face. Her eyes meet mine and she continues. “I’ve got it again. After all this time of being in remission. It’s everywhere this time around. I was thinking of quitting, but my oncologist thinks I might have a chance.”

“Oh, Katie.”

She sighs and closes her hand around mine. “Live every moment. Don’t waste a single one. Life is so unpredictable. Today, you’re well and perfectly healthy. The next day, you’re fighting for your life, and all of a sudden, life becomes this big nothing, Nicole. Just a song of suffering with the occasional happy memories woven between the lyrics. You don’t want to find yourself in my position.”

My eyes fill with tears. “Now that Wings of Grace isn’t operating anymore…”

15:24 Wed, Oct 22 A

Chapter 40

58

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Katie shushes me. “Don’t worry about that. It’s alright. I’ll find a new way to get support. You move on with your life and focus on your career, okay? Do that for me, please.”

“I will,” I promise.

Hours later, I’m driving home. Sebastian left early. I didn’t see him again after I walked into the house with Katic. I guess he was pretty upset about his ex being invited.

And his mother invited that woman without even consulting Katie.

I wipe my tears as I drive. I’m pretty sad about Katie’s diagnosis. I can’t imagine how painful it must be for her to go through that all over again.

I’m devastated. Katie is the last person in the world who should be in pain.

I lock the door of my room, then start to undress. Shortly after this, my phone starts to ring. I fish it out of my bag and stare at the screen. Unknown number. Who could it be?

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