Wild Nights With My Brother's Ex-Best Friend novel Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Chapter 42

NICOLE

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I’m the first to look away, and by the time I return to my senses, Sebastian is several feet in front of me, and he hasn’t even noticed that I stayed behind.

Shame colors my cheeks because I’ve allowed myself to react to Roman’s presence, and of course, he would’ve noticed that. How embarrassing.

My life’s been reduced to a humiliation ritual since I saw Roman that night.

And it hasn’t been the same since. God, when will I catch a break?

I rejoin Sebastian’s side and he says something to me that I completely miss because there’s a storm in my mind now, and it’s making so much noise that it’s drowning everything out.

But I won’t look at Roman again. I’ll put in the effort and do whatever is necessary.

1. Won’t. Look.

From where I’m standing, the bastard has a good view of me. And I can just feel his eyes on me. It’s so tempting to return the look and shoot daggers his way with my eyes, but I made a promise to myself and I have to at least try to keep it.

*Sounds great, doesn’t it?” Sebastian asks me in a low voice as his eyes scan my face. “What do you think?”

Shit. I have to focus. He’s referring to the pamphlet in his hand-an association supporting children with disabilities. I answer quickly. “Yes. I think it’s amazing. I definitely would’ve made a donation.”

Sebastian nods and tucks the pamphlet in the inner pocket of his blazer. Thankfully, we move on, and the more distance I put between myself and Roman, the better I feel.

God, did he really have to be here?

Is this a test of some kind?

“Does this place make you feel like home?” he asks. “You know, considering you’re in your element here?”

“Absolutely, I reveal, smiling for the first time since my eyes landed on that pile of shit standing somewhere behind us. “I miss everything about fundraising, you know? The countless hours spent planning events. Hoping. The fulfillment that came after changing someone’s life. It’s…”

I inhale and let out a breath slowly. My eyes fill with damn tears. I’ve been feeling so emotional lately. I don’t know if it’s the fuckedupress that is my life or the raging hormones from the pregnancy.

I wipe my tears away quickly and turn to face him. T’m sorry. I’m just being very silly.”

‘Don’t apologize to me, Nicole, he claims softly. His voice is so gentle that it feels like a caress. “I think it’s beautiful and inspiring that you cared about others. You were selfless and brave”

That’s the irony, isn’t it? I cared about others and wanted to help them, but stabbed my own brother in the back.

I feel like such a fraud.

I manage to calm myself down and smile at him. He asks me, “Would you ever go back to it?”

173

3:59 pm P P

Chapter 42

55 vouchers.

“I don’t know. Right now, I’m focusing on other things. But yes, once everything is stable, I’ll definitely try to give back in any way that I can.”

Someone walks past me and their shoulder bumps into mine painfully to the point where I hiss and rub it.

Sebastian places a hand over my left shoulder-the uninjured one-and says to the waiter, “Hey, watch it!”

My eyes widen when I realize who the waiter is. Fucking Dan? He mumbles an apology, his eyes on me, then walks away like nothing happened.

I’m in shock right now.

What’s actually going on?

“Are you alright?” Sebastian asks once I’ve whirled around to face him. There’s a furrow between his brows and he looks genuinely upset. “You sounded like it hurt.”

I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that Dan is here and that he was so aggressive toward me. Honestly? I’m a little concerned. I haven’t thought about him in so long, so for him to pop back into my life in the most random way imaginable makes me wonder if I should have worried about him more. “I was just shocked by the impact. It doesn’t hurt too bad.”

It actually does. I’m pretty sure his bony shoulder bruised mine. What a jerk. I almost want to go after him and demand to know why he would do something so aggressive and careless.

But I decide against it.

I don’t want Sebastian to know that I dated that creep. Gosh, my choices in men are so damn questionable. And again, I can’t say I wasn’t warned.

I’ve never thought of myself as a stubborn person, but I guess that’s what I am because I just don’t take people’s advice. I do what I want when I want, and then cry about the consequences like someone with no sense at all.

“We should probably report him,” Sebastian continues, which makes me realize that he’s still raging about Dan. “He must’ve seen you. He ran straight into you!”

“Don’t worry about that,” I say, hoping to calm him. I don’t want this to get bigger than necessary. Dan can fuck off with his hurt feelings at this point. This is a professional setting for me and I’ll be damned if I give him the power to wreck what I have.

How embarrassing would that be?

We continue moving around and finding out just how many charities there’ll be. Sebastian stays really close to me, and it takes me a shockingly long time to realize that the hold he has on me is a protective one. I didn’t think much about it before, Every time we approach a new stall, he places his hand over my upper back gently.

I didn’t notice it before, but now that I have, it’s impossible not to feel some tenderness toward him. In fact, every time I stral a glance at him, I’m reminded of just how handsome he is.

Sebastian is extremely charming, and the thought of him feeling anything at all toward me makes me blush and tingle in ways I never thought I could

What could someone so calm, successful, and intelligent see in a mess like me?

At some point, our eyes meet, and the world around me blurs. I genuinely forget about everything else. It all just fades away.

“Nicole,” he says gently.

2/3

3:59 pm pp 8.

Chapter 42

“Yes?

There’s something I want to say to you, but I don’t know how you’re going to react.”

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