Wild Nights With My Brother's Ex-Best Friend novel Chapter 56

NICOLE

When I realize that I have absolutely no way of getting out of here, my heart sinks, because the only chance I have of getting back home involves calling my brother.

And I would hate to do that.

Spending the night here is out of the question. Things between Esmeralda and me aren't good at all. My brother was right. I should never have agreed to the trip. It doesn't help that I had a bad feeling about it the whole time.

I tried convincing myself that it would be alright, but deep down, I didn't want to come. And now, this has happened, and I feel awful.

Before heading up to the room to grab my things, I stop by the bar to have something to drink. I opt for the cheapest alcoholic beverage on the menu—a glass of red wine. Yes, there's beer, but I've never been a fan.

Drinking is really the last thing I should be doing, but tonight was awful and I need something to help me take off the edge. Besides, it's not like I'm going to do anything reckless. I need liquid courage to call Mason and tell him how I fucked up once again.

Sigh.

This is a nightmare.

I'm distractedly sipping my drink when a man moves to stand right beside me. I don't look at his face, but I note that he's wearing a white fitted t-shirt and not the white dress shirt that Roman was wearing, so it isn't him.

I don't know what I'd do if he followed me.

"A martini, please. Dry."

The bartender nods, and he sits right beside me on the stool. I have another sip, and this time, I feel his eyes on me. I pointedly ignore him, but then it becomes impossible to do so when I hear him say, "I know you."

I snap my head in his direction and immediately recognize him. My face colors, and I covertly look around to ensure that Roman isn't anywhere nearby. I find it hard to believe that I'd just run into his friend. This country is enormous, for crying out loud, and what are the odds that we'd all end up here?

"Do you remember my name?" he asks with a broad smile. His teeth are incredibly white.

"No, I don't, but I remember you," I say, trying to sound polite but not putting much effort into any part of this conversation either. I met him at the sex club. He greeted Roman. "I'm surprised you recognized me, considering I had a mask on."

He chuckles. "Those masks don't do shit, but in my defense, I've always been good with faces. And yours is one I'd never forget. The name's Blaine, by the way."

I don't know how to answer this, so I say nothing and hope that he'll drop the subject. The last thing I need to be remembering right now is that night at Inferna.

"So, what brings you here?" he questions.

I shrug. "I came for the festivities, I guess."

"This is the party of the year and you don't sound enthusiastic at all," he chuckles.

I glance at him before saying in response, "I guess I'm not really into any of this."

The bartender slides him his drink, and he watches me while drinking. There's something about his eyes that I don't like at all. I don't like how he's looking at me. This man, Blaine, is fairly handsome. His hair is pitch black, darker than Roman's, and his eyes are a piercing blue. He looks like a husky, if that makes sense.

His gaze is piercing.

"What are you into?" he asks in a low voice that I assume is meant to be seductive.

Thankfully, we're interrupted, but not by an ideal person. "Blaine, where on earth is Roman? I've been looking all over for him!"

Carmen Lowett.

This whole evening has to be a fever dream.

I turn my face away quickly, but we already made eye contact. She stands next to Blaine and he answers that he hasn't seen Roman at all. Her eyes are on me, though. I can feel it. I try to sip my drink nonchalantly, but her presence infuriates me in ways I can't explain.

I shouldn't hate her for the things Roman did.

That's exactly why I hate myself.

"I know you," Carmen suddenly says, and this time, I turn my head to look at her. She's watching me through slitted eyes. "I met you once before. You work for Roman's friend. His secretary, I think."

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