Brooke Whittaker had all but forgotten Nicholas Williams after the "Great Christmas Disaster of 2010." But, when her father announces a business arrangement that will not only move Brooke and her family to New York City, but also forces Nicholas bac...
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Nicholas had been mad at Brooke before. Hell, he'd been angry with her multiple times in the past week. Probably even in the past day. But the emotion he was feeling after she got in the car with Ben was different. He couldn't bring himself to feel just angry. It was something more than that.
"I can't believe she just left with him," Sage said from Nicholas's side. He turned his head to see all three of his best friends had walked over to him. Something about them wanting to comfort him made him irritated, he hated being pitied. But he couldn't find the right words to tell them that. Not now.
"I can," Nicholas said, still staring at the same spot the car disappeared into the horizon. "Was I just too naïve to see it?"
Nicholas hadn't meant for that to come out. It was a little more vulnerable than he had intended. But something about the words Kate had said earlier were sticking in his head, tormenting his thoughts.
"Oh no, Nick...you were just..." Sage started. Nicholas almost smiled, she was always trying to cheer everyone up.
"Blinded by your love for her?" Nate offered, and any thoughts of smiling vanished.
"You were in love with her?" Liam asked.
"Not was—is," Nate corrected.
"No I was just—" Nicholas tried to get a word in, but was interrupted as was usual with this crew.
"In lust?" Nate flashed his signature devilish smirk.
"No—well, I mean," Nicholas started. No one would blame him if he said he thought she was attractive. Scratch that, really damn hot. "I mean I don't know what we were—or what I thought we were but I—"
"You like her?" Sage inquired, genuinely curious.
"I think I—it doesn't matter anymore," Nicholas shook his head and cleared it of all these irrational thoughts. "She left with Ben, remember?"
Nicholas turned to scan their faces and realized it was a mistake. An uncannily similar look of pity was present on each of their faces. Nicholas rolled his eyes and mumbled something about going to get a drink.
After ordering a drink, chugging it down, and then ordering another one, Nicholas still couldn't get Brooke off of his mind. They had to have been almost to her house by now—or Ben's. Nicholas's fists started to curl in anger at the thought, so he brushed it out of his mind and hoped Brooke would have enough common sense not to go home with the devil.
The outdoor bar was almost empty by now as the breeze had started to pick up and most of the guests were either inside celebrating or dancing to the slow song that seemed to be playing on repeat.
Nicholas scanned the crowd that was still outside and found Jack Montgomery flirting with what had to have been one of Robert Van der Hoof's younger cousins.
What an asshole, Nicholas thought. He didn't even notice his date leaving with another guy.
As much as Nicholas tried, the word still left a severe distaste in his mouth.
