Married to my Ex’s Brother

CHAPTER 2

Cleo

Lexi: Hey girl! How did dinner go? Did he propose? I need details asap!!

I stared at the message and felt a sharp pain in my chest.Just a few hours ago, Lexi had been sitting cross-legged on my bed while I got ready for dinner.She'd spent almost thirty minutes helping me prepare for a future that no longer existed.A tear slid down my cheek at the memory.I quickly locked my phone and shoved it back into my purse.I couldn't answer her.Not right now.Not when I could barely process it myself.

Around me, the restaurant continued as though my world hadn't just fallen apart.

Waiters moved between tables.Glasses clinked.People laughed.The normalcy of it felt almost cruel.I pushed back my chair and stood.My legs felt unsteady beneath me.For a split second, I thought I might actually collapse.Instead, I grabbed my purse and headed for the exit.The cool night air hit my face the moment I stepped outside.I inhaled sharply and wrapped my arms around myself as tears continued slipping down my cheeks.

A yellow cab pulled up near the curb.Without thinking,I raised my hand, signaling for the driver to stop.A few moments later, I was sitting in the back seat staring blankly out the window as the city lights blurred past.The driver glanced at me through the rearview mirror.

"Where to, miss?"

I should've said home.But the thought of walking into my apartment made my chest ache.Every corner of the apartment held a memory of Damien.The couch where we'd spent countless movie nights. The kitchen where we'd cooked dinner and argued over recipes.The framed photographs scattered around my living room.I couldn't face it.Not tonight.Not when I still felt like I couldn't breathe.

"Miss?"

I blinked."Sorry."

My voice sounded strange.Small.Broken.I swallowed hard.

"Where's the nearest club?"

The driver looked surprised but quickly recovered."About ten minutes from here."

I nodded and looked back out the window.

"Take me there.”

The rest of the drive passed in silence.I rested my forehead against the cool window and watched the city blur by in streaks of light.This was a bad idea.I knew it.The rational part of me knew that drowning my misery in alcohol wasn't going to fix anything. It wasn't going to make Damien come back. It wasn't going to erase the image of him walking away from me without a second glance.

But right now, I didn't want to be rational.I didn't want to think.I didn't want to go home and sit alone in my apartment.I just wanted the noise in my head to stop.A few minutes later, the cab slowed before pulling up outside a building lit by a glowing black-and-gold sign which read Havana Club.

The club stretched across the corner of the street, its entrance crowded with people waiting behind velvet ropes. Music pulsed faintly through the walls, the heavy bass vibrating even from outside.

"We're here," the driver said.His voice snapped me from my thoughts.For a second, I simply stared at the sign.Then I reached into my purse and handed him a few dollar bills.

"Keep the change."The driver glanced at the money before looking back at me.

"Have a good night,miss."

I almost laughed at that.A good night.That ship had sailed hours ago.I pushed open the door and stepped out onto the sidewalk.The night air was cold against my skin.People stood in small groups outside the club, laughing and talking. A woman in a silver dress posed for a picture while her friends cheered behind her. Two men argued about something beside the entrance.I took my place in the line near the entrance.A large security guard checked IDs before waving people through one at a time.When my turn came, he barely glanced at my driver's license before handing it back.

"Enjoy your night."I forced a smile and stepped inside.The music hit me immediately.The bass vibrated through the floor beneath my heels.Flashes of colored light swept across the crowded room.Conversations blended with laughter, the clink of glasses, and the steady rhythm of music pouring from the speakers.The air smelled faintly of expensive perfume, alcohol, and something sweet I couldn't quite place.Bodies filled the dance floor.People danced.Laughed.Flirted.The world kept moving.Just like it had in the restaurant.Just like it would tomorrow. I felt my chest tighten at the thought.

For a moment, I almost turned around and left.Maybe this had been a mistake.Maybe I should've gone home.Then Damien's voice echoed through my head.

“I think we should break up.”

My stomach twisted.No.Home wasn't an option.Not tonight.I lifted my chin and headed toward the bar.One drink.That's all I needed.Just one.

One drink turned into two.Two turned into three.Somewhere between the third and fourth, I'd stopped keeping count.

The alcohol hadn't fixed anything.It hadn't stopped the ache in my chest.It hadn't erased Damien's voice from my head.I stared down at my phone.Our conversation sat open on the screen.

The last messages between us were from this morning.Completely normal.As though he hadn't been planning to end things.

My throat tightened and before I could stop myself, I typed.

I miss you so much Damien. Let's work things out.

I hit send and the message was delivered immediately.

My eyes remained fixed on the screen.Waiting.A minute passed.Still nothing.

I typed again.

Please talk to me.

Send.My fingers tightened around the phone.

Please, Damien.

Send.Still no response.

I swallowed hard and stared at the screen.Maybe he was busy.Maybe he hadn't seen them.

The silence felt unbearable.Around me, the club pulsed with life.Meanwhile, I sat staring at a screen, waiting for someone who clearly didn't want to talk to me.I hated myself for it.I hated that after everything he'd done tonight, I was still sitting here hoping he'd answer.

"He's not going to reply."

The voice came from beside me.I froze.Slowly, I turned my head.A man occupied the seat next to mine.I hadn't even noticed him sit down.For a second, I just stared.Then my eyes narrowed.