Page 28 of Between Regrets and Promises (Between Us Trilogy #2)

A frustrated groan released. “She should .”

“Let me see. You’ve had a thing for her for years and refuse to do anything about it, which, I understand why. But then she finally starts dating someone, and you’ve got nothing but negative things to say about it. Again, I get why but?—”

“He’s a creep,” I interject.

“Right. But your timing is shit. So it makes you look like the jealous guy who never stepped up, and that’s how she views all of this. I don’t think you could say anything to fix that either.”

When our breakfast arrives, Liam eats as if he hasn’t seen food for a month. Considering he worked all day yesterday and got home late, there’s no telling when he ate last, especially when he’s on special assignments.

“Do you think we could get her to the house?” I ask. “Maybe she’d listen to you if she won’t give me the time of day?”

“Possibly, but she’s been avoiding me too.

” Liam shrugs. “I can text her and see if she’ll come over.

If not, you’re gonna have to go to her. I think she has a right to know, but you need to be the one to tell her.

If I know Sophie as well as I think I do, she’s gonna have a fuckton of questions and want an explanation. ”

He’s right, but a part of me doesn’t know where to start.

If she already thinks I’m the jealous guy who wouldn’t make a move, then I’m doomed from the start, but I have to try.

The last thing I want is for something to happen to her while knowing all of this and not tell her.

I’m already living with impossible guilt from my past. I don’t need to add more to it.

“You’re right. If you can get her to the house, I’ll make sure she gets the message.”

“It’s gonna be hard as hell, but I know what’s at risk here. I’ll make it happen, even if I have to call Lennon and Maddie and get them involved too. I hate being the bastard who makes it a family matter, but that’s where we’re at with this.”

“I agree. That’s exactly where we’re at.”

“Hell, I’ll carry her to the house caveman style if I have to,” he adds.

“Kicking and screaming?” I mock.

He snorts. “Wouldn’t be my first time.”

“And in case she refuses to listen to me, plan B is you intervene and tell her he has a record, so she knows our concerns are valid. You didn’t break her heart, so perhaps she’ll give you more than five seconds to explain.”

We finish eating and go home. Liam goes to his room, and I rush to get ready for work and somehow make it on time.

The day drags by, and Liam texts me in the afternoon and lets me know Sophie agreed to meet him for dinner tomorrow at the house, but she was vocal about me not being there.

This might be a lot harder than I originally thought.

Mason

Fine. I’ll make myself “unavailable” for an hour, then I’m coming home, and we’re having an unavoidable chat.

Liam

She’s gonna hate me as much as she hates you for this.

Mason

Then you can join the club.

I’ve been on edge all day thinking about seeing Sophie tonight.

After Liam told me how pissed Sophie is at me, it’s bothered the fuck out of me, but I deserve it.

I wish I could be the man for her, the one who makes her happy and gives her what she needs and wants.

And there’s no fuckin’ way that Weston gives her that.

It’s more than obvious he’s a placeholder, which makes me sick to my stomach.

Instead of going straight home from work, I stay late, trying to keep my mind busy as I go through files and organize them into the electronic system.

What I’m doing is nothing more than bitch work, but it’s a foot in the door until the fall.

Eventually, all the internships and experience I’ve gained over the years will come in handy.

Though my dad will take credit for it all, as he somehow manages with everything I accomplish, regardless if he agrees with my career choices or not.

People in the department will think I got the job because of him as well.

I have so damn much to prove either way.

I check the time and realize I need to get going.

She’s been at the house for nearly thirty minutes, and I don’t want Liam to have to stall her.

My nerves get the best of me as I head home.

When I see her car in the driveway, I park behind her, knowing if she gets pissed and tries to leave, she won’t be able to.

It’s a dick move, but I’m gonna make sure she listens to me.

When I walk into the house, Liam’s laughing as Sophie tells him something.

She glares at me, giving me her perfected go to hell look.

I smile, but she rolls her eyes and turns away.

If that’s any indication of how annoyed she is I’m here, I can only imagine the daggers she’s throwing at Liam right now.

Instead of starting the conversation now, I go take a shower, giving them time to chat since she’s not going anywhere.

Once I’m done, I go to the kitchen and make myself a plate of food. Sophie and Liam are on the back porch, but it doesn’t look like they’re talking.

Just as I finish eating, Liam comes in and drops a beer bottle in the trash. “You should go out there now.”

“How is she?” I ask.

He shakes his head.

I place my plate in the sink, then walk outside. When I sit, Sophie looks at me. It’s a stare down until I break the silence.

“How’ve you been?”

She bites the inside of her cheek and looks stressed.

“How do you think I’ve been?”

“Good, I hope.”

“What do you want, Mason?”

Sucking in a deep breath, I study her. Though I’m sure she’d deny it, the chemistry between us is still there. Regardless that she’s with Weston now, the underlying electrical current that’s always streamed between us still pulls us together.

“Soph, your boyfriend?—”

“Don’t you dare start that again,” she warns.

“He’s not who you think he is,” I blurt, ignoring her.

A sarcastic laugh escapes her. “How do you know anything about our relationship? Oh wait, you don’t.”

I’m trying to stay calm for her sake. “He’s not a correctional officer, Soph. He doesn’t work at the prison and never has. I checked.”

Sophie shakes her head, her lips in a firm line. Standing in front of me, she points a finger in my face. “How dare you go behind my back and snoop on him? How fucking dare you, Mason. Your audacity is mind-boggling.”

Standing, I grab her elbow, trying to calm her down, but she pushes me away.

I release her, but I don’t let her get far. “I’m trying to help you.”

She snaps her gaze to mine with fire boiling in her eyes.

“Listen to me and listen to me very carefully, Mason. For years of my life, I waited around for you. Seriously waited for you. It was your choice for us not to have a relationship, for us not to progress any further, though I made it clear what I wanted. I tried being your friend, but your behavior toward me didn’t merit my friendship.

Now that I’ve found someone, you feel threatened, but this jealousy bullshit has to stop.

You need to butt out of my relationship and mind your own damn business. ”

Her words drive through me like a rusted knife, ripping and tearing flesh, leaving a deep wound exposed. “Sophie.” My chest deflates. “I’m not the only one who’s worried?—”

“No, Mason. I’m done,” she cuts me off, then slides the patio door open and walks inside the house.

I stand for a moment, looking at the pink and purple sky, wishing things were different.

I wish I hadn’t pushed her away for so long so she’d trust me now, but I did and I don’t know if this is fixable.

The patio door slides open. “Sophie needs you to move your truck, ya bastard,” Liam tells me with a smirk.

“What happened to plan B?” I ask him.

“I tried, man. She stormed in cussing your name, and I started to explain that we had good reason for looking into him, that we found out some bad shit that made us worried, but she wasn’t having it. Said I had no room to talk and mocked my wealth of knowledge on relationships, then marched out.”

I shake my head. “I might just make her wait out there all night.”

“You’ve always been stubborn. She might murder you, though.”

The door closes, and I take another minute to myself before walking through the house to meet her in the front.

She’s standing by her car, but instead of doing what she demands, I stalk toward her. Sophie steps back, pressing her body against her car, and sucks in a sharp breath. Although she doesn’t want to listen to me, I’m determined to make her.

“Real cute parking behind me. It’s as if you both had this planned the entire time,” she says with venom in her voice.

Staring into her brown eyes, I shrug, wishing I could read her thoughts.

“I’m sorry for hurting you. I never wanted to fucking hurt you, which is why I only wanted to stay friends.

Maybe you don’t understand that, but I wouldn’t expect you to.

But as your friend, I’m so damn worried about you.

About the way you’re acting. The seclusion.

How you’ve put a wall up between all of us, even your sisters.

I don’t know what’s going on with you, Sophie, but this didn’t happen until you started dating him.

So I have my reasons for checking him out. ”

She tries to open her mouth and speak, but I place a finger over her soft lips to silence her.

“The foundation of your relationship was built on a lie, unless you knew that already. Did you?”

She doesn’t answer me, but there’s a flicker of sadness in her eyes.

“You didn’t. And I know I can’t make you happy.

I can’t give you what you want, but I’ll be damned if someone like him has you in ways I can only dream of and then disrespects you while forcing you away from everyone who loves you.

Over my goddamn dead body. So if you hate me for that, then so be it.

Hate me. But trust me when I say I’ve only had your best interests in mind, and I only want you to be safe. Weston is dangerous.”

Tears form in her eyes, and I want nothing more than to lean over and kiss them all away, but there’s a wall between us, one I can’t climb.

“Let me leave,” she says in a cracked voice.

I nod, then walk to my truck, and back out of the driveway. As Sophie’s car rounds the corner, all I can do is hope I got through to her before it’s too late.