Wild Nights With My Brother's Ex-Best Friend novel Chapter 51

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NICOLE

The day of our trip arrives.

At last.

I've been talking about it for so long, and for the last few days, it's really all I've discussed with Haley, who's extremely glad that I'm taking the time for myself. Mason's always been around whenever I talked about it.

Yet, now, he's acting like he's never heard me mention it at all.

I sigh in frustration as I shove another bathing suit in my duffel bag. "You're such a pain, you know that?"

"I think it's messed up!" he argues. "You just had that...that thing happen to you, and now, you're going with that crazy friend of yours someplace I can't go to if something happens. It's too far and I have work!"

"I'll be fine," I say for the hundredth time. "I know you're worried about me and I appreciate it, but I'll be totally fine."

His face grows redder, and his hands are balled by his sides. "This is the first time you've done something like this. Is it even safe where you're going? I don't trust that gold-digging friend of yours at all."

This time, I can't help it. I burst out, "Don't call her that! And could you just stop and listen to yourself for once? We're not kids anymore. Next, you're going to ask me if there'll be boys there."

"Will there?"

I don't know if I should laugh or cry at this, so I call for Haley instead. "Haley, please come get him! He's being a pain!"

"He's your brother, deal with him!" she yells from the kitchen.

Mason rubs his face repeatedly while I continue packing, completely ignoring him. "I'm just worried about you, alright? I think you're forcing yourself to do this when you're not fine. You didn't even go back to the doctor like he told you to. I think you should stay. Getting drunk for the weekend is not the right move here."

"I won't get drunk, and I'm fine. Like I've told you a thousand times." When he doesn't look convinced, I sigh and inch closer to him. I really can't be mad at him because I know he has the best intentions in mind. "I need this, Mason. I'm so sick and tired of thinking about every terrible thing that has ever happened to me. I need a distraction, and this is the perfect one. I wasn't sure about it either earlier on, but now I am, okay?"

Esmeralda calls, and I know she's outside. I grab the bag and haul it over my shoulder. Mason shakes his head and says, "Alright. Have fun. Call me if you need anything."

I kiss his cheek. "I will."

"I mean that, Nicole," he says after me. "Anything happens—anything at all—and you give me a call."

"I will. Bye! I'll call when I get there!"

"Have fun!" Haley hollers from the kitchen.

Esmeralda looks fabulous in a blue and green sundress. Once I'm seated in the car, we get going, and she squeals in excitement. "This is going to be great! We should've done something like this a long time ago!"

"I agree!" I say back, even though I know that couldn't have been possible. I was always broke, for starters, and I never had the time. I used to work even on weekends when I was managing Wings of Grace.

"We should stop for some lemonades," Esmeralda suggests before pulling into a drive-thru. Once we have our food, we get going, and for the next four hours, all we do is talk. So far, I'm having the time of my life. Driving away from the city just feels like leaving all my burdens behind. I'm a brand new woman as I stare out the window while my best friend and I are chatting and the sun's dipping in the sky.