Page 37 of Between Regrets and Promises (Between Us Trilogy #2)

SOPHIE

Being here is surreal. Everything about the past three days has felt like a dream or, rather, a nightmare.

Mason getting arrested for Weston’s murder scared the crap out of me, but knowing all charges have been dropped eases my anxiety some.

Still, I worry about him and what this means for his career and future.

He’s been put on temporary leave until who knows when.

The only thing he’s told me is that his dad suggested it until things “calm down.” Whatever the hell that means.

After his court hearing on Monday, we went to Weston’s house to grab my things, and I could see the pain and anger written all over Mason’s face as he took in the scene.

Shit’s knocked over from our fight that morning, holes are in the walls, and the kitchen remains a fucking mess.

He didn’t say anything, but I caught him shaking his head and watched his hands ball into fists several times.

Once I had everything I needed, I left that house once and for all. I breathed the biggest sigh of relief. One I’d been holding in for six months.

Back at Mason’s house, I informed the director of the symphony what had happened, and he told me to take all the time I need.

I take the week off or at least until I can think straight again.

Music soothes me, and although I could use it right now, the thought of picking up my violin and playing brings me to tears.

My heart isn’t in it. Hell, not even super glue could put my shattered heart back together right now.

I still don’t know how I feel about what happened or the fact that Weston is gone.

My heart and head are conflicted, torn between losing the man I had fallen in love with and a man who was nothing like the man I first met.

With his witty personality and sweet charm, he lured me into his web.

Once I was addicted to him, he ripped the rug out from under me and revealed the monster he truly was.

I thought I knew him and thought I loved him.

Hell, I thought he loved me too. But you don’t hit and hurt the person you love.

He revealed his demons to me on a gold platter the moment I moved in with him.

I should’ve left sooner. Fear and the hope that things would change kept me a prisoner in his home.

He could’ve killed me.

He had a gun.

A gun I didn’t know existed.

Would he have used it on me? The next fight? The next time I pushed his buttons too far? The next time he drank?

Questions flood my thoughts as I squeeze my eyes shut and try to push them away. I can’t think of the what-ifs because it’ll send me spiraling again, and I won’t let him win. He doesn’t get to control me anymore. I’m free.

“Soph?” I feel a hand on my shoulder, and I relax at Mason’s soothing voice.

I open my eyes to my savior, the man who saved my life, after falling asleep on the couch after breakfast. He’s dressed in slacks and a button-up shirt, and I make sure my gaze doesn’t linger on him for too long.

My feelings for him have always been there, even when I forced myself to pretend they weren’t and pushed them away in hopes they’d disappear.

Knowing he only saw me as a friend made it possible to ignore them, and for years now, I did.

From the moment I started dating Weston, things were strained between Mason and me, but it didn’t mean I stopped caring about him.

Mason tried to warn me, to protect me, and wanted me to understand the concerns he had about the man I was sharing a bed with every night.

Bitterness that he didn’t give us a shot three years ago and my pride kept me from listening.

He’s always looked out for me, and I know that now.

Blinking up at him, I take in his features. Still gorgeous, built, and tan, every inch of him is pure perfection.

“You okay?”

I inhale a deep breath, then exhale slowly. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just thinking about all the unpacking I should be doing. But at least I managed to finish a load of laundry so I can hang up my clothes.”

He takes a seat next to me on the couch.

The couch I’ve been sleeping on the past two nights because I didn’t want to be an inconvenience to Liam and take over his bed again.

We argued about it, but I insisted, and he eventually caved since he barely fit.

The cushions are comfortable for a little bit, but after a few hours, the springs were killing me.

I stretch my arms above my head, tilting my head until a crack sounds.

Mason furrows his brows and frowns. “Your back hurts?”

I sigh, slumping my arms down to my sides. “Everything hurts.”

“Let’s find something to binge since we’ll be stuck in this house for a while.” Mason grabs the remote and clicks on the Netflix app. “Might as well be on house arrest since I’ve been ordered to stay hidden until further notice.”

His dad told him to keep a low profile and not talk to the media about anything. Being the DA’s son and not being in jail already has people making assumptions about the whole situation.

“Sure, might as well. I haven’t watched TV in so long I don’t know what’s good,” I admit, reaching for a blanket.

Mason grins.

“What?” I ask, then pat down my hair, wondering if it’s sticking up in a rat’s nest. “Do I have something on my face?”

He shakes his head and chuckles. “No, nothing like that. I’m glad you’re safe, Soph. I feel a lot better with you being here.”

“Really? Because I feel like I’m intruding on you guys,” I admit. I hate being an inconvenience.

“Uh, no. Not at all. I’d be going stir-crazy if you were anywhere else. Well, crazier .” He flashes me a boyish grin as if admitting that made him more vulnerable. This side of Mason makes being just friends hard as hell. It’s difficult not to feel something for him when he’s like this.

“Does this mean I’m finally off your shit list?” I tease, needing to lighten the mood before my heart reads deeper into his words and creates something I know isn’t really there.

He turns back to the TV, scrolling through shows and movies. “Oh, sweet Sophie. You’ve never been on my shit list. Not even for a second.” My cheeks heat, and when he glances at me, then winks, I’m quite sure my heart stops beating altogether.

The next day as I sprawl out on the couch with a book and wait for my food delivery, Mason plops down by my feet and places them in his lap. I smell his body wash and glance over and see his hair is still wet. Stifling a groan, I force my eyes away from the view and back to the pages.

He reaches over and tilts the hardcover to get a better look at the cover. “That’s a good one. Second one was slow, though.”

“You’ve read it?” I ask, surprised as hell as I place the book flat against my chest. “Wait. You read?”

He quirks a brow. “Don’t sound so surprised, geez. I read it when it first came out.”

“I’m not surprised. I didn’t know you were into adult fantasy books.”

He shrugs, reaching for the remote. “Used to be. Didn’t finish the series.”

“What?” I gasp. “It only gets better!”

Mason furrows his brows at me. “You’ve read the entire series already? Why are you reading book one then?”

“You’ve never re-read a book or series before?” I ask defensively.

Mason shrugs. “I had to read a lot in college and it didn’t leave much time for leisure reading.”

“I bet you’d like Teddy Leigh. I binged his last series. So damn good.” I release a dreamy sigh. “Plus, he’s hot too.”

Mason glares at me. “Yeah, now I really want to read it and think about his hotness.”

I roll my eyes. “No one said you had to think about how he looks, though why wouldn’t you want to? Beyond intelligent, sexy, plus he’s funny! I stalk, er, follow him on social media.”

Grabbing for my phone, I click on the app and look up his handle. Before I can say another word, Mason scoops it out of my fingers. “Hey!”

“Let me see this guy. I bet he’s an old fart.”

I laugh at his tone. “Nope. Early thirties.”

“He looks like any other guy with dark hair and a beard.” Mason hands my phone back.

“To you, maybe.” I chuckle, wondering if I detect a hint of jealousy in his voice. “Anyway, his books are amazing so you should read them solely because of that fact.”

“I’ll get right on it,” he deadpans.

“I have his books in hardcover if you want to borrow them. But you need to treat them nicely. They’re all signed.”

Mason leans back with a groan, but I see the smile he tries to hide. “Of course, they are.”

We spend the day like this, bantering about anything and everything.

We started watching Lucifer on Netflix yesterday, and we’re already on season two.

I half-listen as I continue reading my book, and we actively avoid the elephant in the room as my feet remain in his lap.

It’s the only way I can keep my emotions down about the reality of our situation.

Mason’s charges might’ve been dropped, but it’s the aftermath of it all that I’m most concerned about.

The promotion he’s supposed to get in the fall, his relationship with his father, and our friendship are all still up in the air, but when it’s just the two of us hanging out, it’s easy to pretend at least for a little while that everything’s fine.

By Thursday morning, Lennon and Maddie are on the doorstep demanding I give them more than two-word text responses. They’ve been messaging me nonstop, but I haven’t been in the mood for conversation, considering what they’re going to force me to talk about.

“You can’t deny your niece. Let us in,” Lennon demands, holding Allie on her hip.

“You can’t use her as bait.” I chuckle, reaching out to grab her. She’s six months now, and her little personality is starting to show. “Come here, baby girl. You’re welcome anytime.” I smile, holding her against my chest.

“Are the boys here?” Maddie asks, and I roll my eyes.

“Just Mason.”