Page 25 of Between Regrets and Promises (Between Us Trilogy #2)

Glancing over, I see the time on my phone and realize Weston should’ve been home already.

Though I’m nervous because of what happened, I find the courage to text and ask where he is.

He promised to join me. My parents are in town, and many of our friends will be there, so it’s important for him to attend because I want to introduce him.

Weston could make an amazing first impression with my folks, and who knows, maybe he’ll get some ideas for our engagement too.

We need to leave in the next thirty minutes if we’re going to make it on time. Considering it’s a surprise engagement, we can’t be late.

Sophie

Hey, baby. You almost home? We need to leave soon for Hunter and Lennon’s thing.

Weston

Ah, babe. Sorry. I got held up at work because someone called in sick. Won’t be able to make it.

My entire mood shifts, and I’m upset he won’t be coming. Instead of replying, I grab my keys and leave. It’s better for me not to say anything at all than to text my emotions, especially since things are rocky at the moment.

Before I put the car in reverse, I text Maddie to see if she needs a ride. Thankfully, she does, so I won’t have to walk in all alone. When I pick her up, she’s her happy-go-lucky self, and I’m glad one of us is a giant ray of sunshine. The girl knows how to make me smile when I don’t feel like it.

“Where’s Weston?” she asks.

“He’s still at work and couldn’t make it.”

“That sucks. Mom and Dad wanted to meet him. They were talking about it at breakfast this morning.”

“I know.” It’s all I can say because no one is more disappointed by it than I am.

Maddie changes the subject and talks about a ballet number she’s learning at the moment.

Though she loves jazz, toe, and lyrical, she’s amazing at pointe too.

I think about her life and how beautiful it is that she’s living her dream.

It’s hard not to feel a tinge of envy by how innocent she is. I want her to stay this way forever.

Eventually, we arrive at the park, and Maddie wraps her arm around me as we walk in.

She makes me feel young and free again, regardless that I’m five years older than her with a stack of responsibilities on my shoulders.

As soon as we enter the Mother Goose concert area and say hello to everyone, an announcement is made to keep quiet because Lennon’s arrived.

Excitement ripples through everyone, and Maddie tries to hold in her squeals by covering her mouth.

When Lennon walks on stage, blindfolded, I nearly begin to cry because I’m so damn happy for her and Hunter.

My musician friends begin playing, and soon, Hunter is down on one knee asking her to marry him.

I get choked up and so does Maddie because they’ve waited so long for this and deserve a lifetime of happiness.

A love like theirs is special, and they’re both so damn lucky.

I think about Weston and know we’ll eventually get there, or at least, I hope.

The thought of him not being here with me, experiencing this special moment, stings.

After the proposal, we eagerly wait for Lennon and Hunter to join us.

From the corner of my eye, I see Mason and Liam.

I freeze and try to focus on Lennon, pretending I don’t see them.

To this day, Mason still causes a thunderstorm of emotions inside me.

He’s like lightning, and I’ve been waiting for him to strike again.

If only he hadn’t been so damn stubborn.

Trying to keep my attention on the happy couple and Allie, I suggest they take more pictures together.

This moment needs to be documented and remembered forever.

Maddie grabs Lennon’s phone and gets to work posing them.

If dance doesn’t work out for her, she should be a professional photographer.

I stand back and watch in awe. Once they’re done, Hunter tilts his head at me.

“Where’s your boyfriend?”

Heat hits my cheeks. I should’ve been more prepared for this question. “Oh, he couldn’t make it. Got caught up at work.”

Lennon frowns when our eyes meet. I try to silently tell her everything is fine, but I’m not sure she’s buying it.

“Right,” Mason says behind me.

Glaring at him, I roll my eyes, but it doesn’t seem to faze him in the least. Maddie lights up when she sees Liam. Her reaction to him causes me to hold back my laughter.

As soon as Lennon and Hunter are pulled away, Mason pulls me off to the side. It’s the first time we’ve been alone together since the intense conversation we had on the patio New Year’s Eve. I’ve avoided him like a flesh-eating bacteria ever since.

“What the hell is going on with you, Sophie? Something isn’t right.” He has that same look in his eyes as Lennon did earlier as he studies my face.

I grit my teeth. “You’re out of line, Mason. Worry about yourself. It’s what you’re good at.”

“You’re acting like the boogeyman is gonna pop up at any moment. Like something’s wrong. I know the signs. I’ve seen them before. You’ve not been yourself, and no number of lies will change that.”

I glare at him, pissed that he can see straight through me and angry because he never gave me a chance. Now that I’ve moved on, he wants to play the hero.

“Where’s Weston really at? Funny how he always has something come up when there’s a group of people involved. Please tell me you aren’t that dense, Soph. I’m worried about you.” His voice is hushed.

“You haven’t earned the right to worry about me, Mason. For years, you’ve done nothing but ignore me, pretend I don’t exist, and pretend we never happened as if you wish it hadn’t. And you know what? I wish it hadn’t either .”

I glance at Mason one last time before I push away from him and walk toward Maddie. He winces as if I’ve slapped him, his jaw tight and his body tense. Perhaps that was a mean thing to say, but he pushed me too far this time questioning my decisions when he’s been absent from my life for months.

Today has been a clusterfuck of emotions, and I’m ready to get the hell away from him. I’m ready to be alone because I’m too emotionally unstable to be around people.

Maddie finishes her conversation, and we meet with our parents. After Lennon and Hunter leave, I tell Maddie I’m tired, and we make our way to the car.

“You okay?” she asks as we walk down the path through the magical park full of fairy tales and nursery rhyme characters.

“I’m fine.” But I don’t know if I am. The only thing on my mind right now is the sincerity and concern in Mason’s eyes when he looked at me. Something I haven’t seen in a long time.

The first time Mason met Weston, it was obvious he hated him. I was too inside my head and heart to listen when Mason told me to be careful.

I go home and climb into bed, not waiting up for Weston. Sleep finds me before he gets home, which is good, because I’m not sure what I would’ve said to him otherwise, and I’m sure he’s been drinking again.