Page 16 of Between Regrets and Promises (Between Us Trilogy #2)

“Bet you I don’t!” I challenge, then change the subject and tell her about Lennon’s texts this morning.

She’s all googly eyes when I tell her everything is going as planned.

I give her the shortened version because Lennon will tell us more when she returns, and she better not leave out any juicy details.

“So Mom and Dad believe it?” she asks.

“One hundred percent.”

Maddie sighs. “They just need to do it already.”

I snort, shaking my head. Though I can’t disagree.

“What? She’s already pregnant. What’s the worst that could happen?”

I park the car and glance at her. “You’re grounded.”

“For being right?”

“For being bad ,” I say, and she rolls her eyes before opening the door.

I grab my violin, then we walk across the park toward the stage. Families, couples, and tons of kids make up the crowd already here, which makes me super excited. Food trucks line the perimeter, and Maddie is already scoping them out.

“You hungry?” she asks.

“Nah. I ate already.” My phone vibrates in my pocket and pulls me away. I remember I didn’t text Liam back, but then notice I have another one from him.

Liam

Here!

Sophie

We’re by the stage. About to warm up.

Liam

Heading that way.

Smiling, I look around, but the park is so crowded, it’s hard to pinpoint their location. As soon as I tell Maddie they’re here, she lights up with excitement.

“Now I’m glad I wore these shorts. Show Liam what he’s missing out on.” She’s determined to crack his shell. I think it’s hilarious how relentless she is.

“I doubt you’re the first girl to show off her long legs. Liam’s a robot when it comes to you,” I tease.

“Well, good thing I’ll be hanging out with them while you play. Perhaps I’ll break through his walls. And if that doesn’t work, I’ll find a guy who’s interested.” She tightens her ponytail and smirks.

“They’re gonna play big brother and not let any man close enough to get handsy,” I say. They’re just as protective of her as Lennon and I are, even when they act like she annoys them.

“Liam can get as handsy as he wants.” She pops her hip.

“The only way Liam’s hands are gonna be on you is if he has to carry your ass out of this park to keep the guys away from you. So don’t push him,” I only half-tease. I wouldn’t put much past Maddie if it meant getting Liam’s attention or having him finally admit he finds her attractive.

“I’m sure someone here would love to help me make him jealous.

” Maddie searches around, and I notice that look on her face.

She’s serious, and she might just do that.

Maddie’s beautiful, and I often worry about her.

She’s flirty, sometimes too much, but Liam and Mason won’t let her do whatever she wants.

Though, when Liam is around, Maddie doesn’t have eyes for anyone else.

She just likes to make jokes about it to get a reaction out of him.

From the corner of my eye, I see Mr. Tanner, my conductor, walk on stage while others arrange the music stands. “Crap. I gotta go. I love you. Be good .”

She grins. “Break a leg!”

“God, I hope not. I need my legs,” I remind her for the thirteenth time.

The saying is a thespian tradition, not one for musicians, especially considering I have my clumsy moments.

I give her a quick smile before I turn and force my way through the crowd of people.

When I make it on the stage, I look out into the audience and see Maddie chatting with Liam and Mason.

I breathe a little easier, knowing they found each other, though she might have a tracking device on Liam at this point.

I arrange my sheet music and then grab my violin from its case and warm up by running through the scales. My heart beats furiously in my chest, and I’m somewhat nervous about Mason being here. Knowing he’s out there watching me is a big deal to me even if it isn’t for him.

Mr. Tanner moves to the front and gets our attention by tapping the baton on the stand in front of him. One by one, the instruments stop playing until we’re sitting quietly, watching him.

“We’re all here? Ready?” he asks. I glance around and don’t find an empty seat on the stage. If there’s one thing about this group, we’re punctual as hell.

We all nod, and he sucks in a deep breath and grabs the microphone.

It’s customary for him to do a small introduction and give a speech.

I look out into the park and am blown away by how many people are waiting for us to play.

The number of people in the audience this year are almost double of last year’s attendance.

As I search over the crowd, I spot Maddie sitting between the guys close to the front on a blanket.

Mason’s laughing and so is Maddie, so I’m sure she said something inappropriate, as usual.

Liam is as stiff as a board and it has me cracking the hell up.

As I’m lost watching them, I look back at Mason and find him staring at me.

I glance back at Mr. Tanner and try to pay attention to what he’s saying.

“It’s our seventeenth year to perform for the city of Sacramento.

We’re honored you’re here. Sit back and enjoy the show.

” After a slight bow, he turns back toward us, and we all straighten our spines and get into position.

He counts down, and we flawlessly start playing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The music whisks me away as I play, getting lost in it.

I don’t take a single day of having this as my job for granted.

Performing, though it makes me nervous, also lights a fire inside me.

As I bow each note, a grin touches my lips, and I’m sucked into the melody.

Though we’ve made it through most of our setlist, I’m shocked when the cellos begin the final song.

After the cymbals crash, I look out at the nameless faces smiling, and it makes me so damn happy because I can see how the songs affected them.

Once it’s over and the audience applauds, I grab my sheet music and put my violin in its case, then tell several of my colleagues goodbye.

My phone vibrates in my pocket and pulls me away as I walk down the stairs.

Maddie

We’re coming to meet you.

Sophie

K!

Before I can get lost in the hordes of people, Maddie comes bouncing up.

“You are a rock star!” she nearly yells, which causes me to blush.

I shake my head. “Nah.”

“I’m impressed as fuck right now,” Liam tells me, giving me a side hug. “I literally had no idea you were a part of something that good. I mean, Maddie jokes about you being a mistro all the time, but I don’t think it’s a joke anymore. That shit is real talk.”

“I know, right?” Maddie says proudly.

I glance at Mason, and he’s too busy staring past me, not paying attention to anything that’s being said. Liam elbows him. “Right?”

“Oh, yeah. Great job,” he says dryly, and even though I want to junk punch him, I refrain.

“Are you hungry?” Maddie asks, interrupting the awkward tension streaming between Mason and me. I’m not sure why or how it got to this point, but it’s annoying as hell.

“Actually, I could use something to drink,” I admit, feeling parched.

“They’ve got a daiquiri truck over there.” Maddie points. “You could get me and you both one!”

“Not happening,” I tell her, looping my arm through hers.

“One drink isn’t gonna get me drunk,” she states. Then she adds, “Well, it could, I guess. I’d probably be a lightweight.” She giggles, then leans in and whispers, “You did awesome today.”

“Thanks,” I say.

Liam walks on the other side of me with Mason beside him. Liam’s too busy texting someone to pay any attention to us.

“Mason was impressed. I know he was,” she adds, only loud enough for me to hear.

I shrug, pretending not to care. I honestly don’t need his approval—I’m good at what I do.

“But I could use a daiquiri,” she says. “Want to get me one, Liam?”

He looks up from his phone. “Huh?”

I shake my head as we walk over toward the food trucks, and I buy a bottle of water and a burrito. The four of us find an open picnic table and sit.

“What did she say?” Mason asks Liam, and I try not to pay attention, but it piques my interest.

“We’ll talk about it later,” he says quietly, and I know it’s something he doesn’t want any of us to hear but leave it to Maddie to ask anyway.

“Who?”

Mason glances at her. “Our roommate. She’s moving out.”

“Roommate?” Maddie and I ask in unison.

They both chuckle. “Yeah. Well, only for a little while longer. She’s moving out soon.”

Maddie’s eyes are the size of saucers, and I try to hold back my shock.

I’ve been over to their house dozens of times, and I’ve never run into anyone other than them, and definitely not a woman.

I like to consider myself an observant person too, but there’s no sign of a woman living with them.

I have so many questions, but I let Maddie take the lead.

I love having her around because the lack of filter makes it easier to get details out of them.

“How long has she lived with you?” she asks. “How come we’ve never met her?”

Liam focuses on his burrito as Mason speaks up. “She’s busy. Works a lot,” he offers simply.

I glance at him, and his eyes linger on me for a moment. There are so many unspoken words streaming between us, and I need to know what his damn problem is lately. Maddie takes the focus away.

“This is weird. Does anyone else think this is weird?” she asks, but no one answers.

“I need a beer.” Mason stands, then walks away to fetch one.

“Sorry about him,” Liam says when he’s out of earshot. “He’s in a mood.”

“Oh, that’s what it is? Should’ve probably left Mr. Party Foul at home.” I grunt with an eyebrow popped. Liam chuckles and stuffs his face.

After Mason returns and we’ve finished eating, I put my violin in the car, and we decide to find a spot while we wait for the fireworks to begin.

Liam places the blanket he brought on the ground, and Maddie and I plop down. Mason sits on the other side of me, shockingly. Liam’s on the end, focused back on his phone.

Maddie leans back on the blanket. “Remember when we’d watch the fireworks show at home?”

I smile, thinking about Lennon. “Yeah. Sneaking up to our secret spot to get the best view.”

“Yep. You know how many boys I’ve kissed up there?” She giggles, the corner of her lips tilting up devilishly. We weren’t allowed to date, but that didn’t mean Maddie didn’t sneak around.

“I can only imagine,” I truthfully say.

Mason’s arm brushes against mine, and my body buzzes.

I glance at him and wonder if he felt what I did.

Thankfully, the fireworks begin and pull my attention to the sky, though I still think about that night we met.

If he weren’t friends with Brandon, and if Lennon weren’t my sister, maybe things between us would’ve been different.

He’s never given me a real explanation as to why he’s not relationship material, and after this amount of time, I don’t expect one.

It doesn’t mean I can just forget about what happened between us, though I’m sure he wishes I would.

To me, it was magical, unforgettable, and even if he doesn’t admit it, the electricity still streams between us.

And I’m not sure the way I feel about him will ever go away, though I kind of wish it would so I could get on with my loveless life.