Page 44 of Between Regrets and Promises (Between Us Trilogy #2)
MASON
I know Liam and Sophie are just friends, and their friendship has been solid since they met, but I’m still jealous as hell of it.
I pushed her away all that time, pretending our bathroom quickie never happened, and have been kicking my own ass for it.
Seeing them hang out and grow closer makes me wonder if that’s where our friendship is leading too.
Though I’m the reason it never turned into anything more, I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t tired of fighting my feelings for her, especially after everything we’ve been through.
After we finish our food and an episode of Lucifer , Sophie steals the remote and turns on Liam’s chick show. I pretend to be annoyed with it, but after the first episode, I’m actually interested. But I’m not admitting that to either of them.
Hell, Rachel Bilson rocks a pair of short shorts and high heels like it’s nobody’s business.
Yep, that’s what I’m going with. Just in case either of them asks or makes a comment about why I watched it with them all damn night long.
Sophie’s up early the next morning for her first day back to work, and when I see her zombie-walk into the kitchen toward the coffeemaker, I smile at how cute she looks after rolling out of bed.
“Morning,” I say, leaning against the counter with my own cup. I’m so used to being up early for work, and since I plan to go back as soon as fucking possible, I’m not about to eff up that schedule by sleeping all day. Whenever my dad decides to lift my ridiculous “leave” and says I’m in the clear.
“Hey.” Her voice is gruff.
“You okay?” I arch a brow.
She blinks and nods before pouring a large cup of coffee. I shuffle around her and grab her creamer from the fridge.
“Thanks. And yeah, I’m just tired.”
“Stayed up too late? Reading?” I probe, wondering what kept her up. We all stopped watching TV around eleven then crashed.
“No, Caleb texted me shortly after I went to my room, and we ended up talking for two hours. Then I couldn’t fall asleep right away.”
I don’t hide my disapproval as my brows shoot up. “Caleb? Who’s that?”
“Oh, he’s one of the people I met at the grieving circle I told you about. We went to the cafe afterward.”
I rack my brain, scratching the back of my head as I try to recall her mentioning one of those people was a guy. “Oh. Didn’t realize you were on texting terms already.”
Sophie tilts her head as if she’s trying to read my thoughts. Shit. I straighten my spine and give her a look of indifference. “I mean…well, you just met. Seems quick, that’s all.”
She shrugs as she takes her first sip. “Yeah, I guess. He lost his wife a few months ago, and I think he needs an ear to listen. It was his first meeting, too.”
Well, now I feel like a piece of shit for making assumptions.
“Oh. That’s sad. How old is he?” I ask, shuffling around the kitchen so she can’t see my face. Maybe he’s eighty, and I’m worrying for nothing.
“Early thirties, I’d guess.”
Fuck. Or not.
Sophie digs into the fridge and sets a carton of eggs, milk, and shredded cheese to the counter. “I’m gonna make some scrambled eggs. Want some?” she asks casually, grabbing a glass bowl and a whisk from the drawer.
“Uh, no thanks. I’m gonna work out first.” I finish the rest of my coffee before setting the cup in the sink.
“I was thinking, if you guys wouldn’t mind, maybe we could have a little dinner party here sometime?” Sophie asks as she cracks an egg, keeping her focus in front of her.
Standing close, I lean against the counter while she mixes her ingredients together. “A dinner party?”
Sophie finally meets my eyes and shrugs. “Yeah, like where I make food and people come over to eat.” She smirks.
I snort, shaking my head. “I know what a dinner party is. But why?”
“Well, I’d like to invite Caleb and Dacia, the girl I met there too, and thought it’d be nice to introduce everyone. Dacia lost her twin brother, and Caleb lost his wife. They’d probably like to hang out with people outside the grieving circle.”
“You just met them,” I say accusingly. “They could be serial killers for all we know.”
Sophie glares at me, then rolls her eyes. “Your job has made you jaded.”
“No, I’ve always been jaded,” I quip to cover up the fact that it’s true. Jaded since I found my girlfriend unconscious five years ago.
“They’re both very nice, and after talking to Caleb last night, I got the impression he’s lonely and could use some friends.”
“Sounds like he wants to get in your pants,” I blurt without thinking and am immediately awarded with the Sophie death glare.
“Seriously? Why can’t a guy and a girl be friends without the expectation of sex?” She starts whisking with a little rage. “Oh wait…” She glances with a sneer.
“C’mon, you know that’s not what I meant. I don’t want you to be taken advantage of because…well, you’re nice, Soph, and sweet and kind. And guys who are lonely will use that to get close to you. I don’t want you to get hurt again,” I tell her sincerely.
“It’s only a dinner party,” she tells me, reaching for a pan and pushing me aside so she can reach the stovetop. “Plus, I’ll invite Hunter and my sisters, and you guys can all see for yourselves that he’s harmless.”
“Alright, fine.” I give in because she’ll win anyway.
“Yay!” she squeals. “Thank you. Tell Liam he’s coming too.”
Sophie returns to work the week of July Fourth and performs at the park like previous years.
We all go and watch, and although I’m supposed to be keeping a low profile, I refuse to miss it.
I study her as she plays her violin, and it’s captivating as always.
The way her body moves and works the instrument, the intense way she concentrates as her eyes read over the music, it’s addictive to watch, and I’m mesmerized by her.
When she’s gone, I find myself missing her.
She works during the day and gives violin lessons a couple of nights a week, plus she’s been going to her grieving circle and meeting up with Caleb and Dacia.
Sophie’s keeping herself occupied, and I hope she’s giving herself time to work through her issues.
Two weeks after the incident, I’m allowed to go back to work and can keep my mind busy instead of having my dark thoughts consume me.
Between that, being forced to stay home, and thinking about Sophie, it’s good to finally have something to do.
Though after a long day, I enjoy coming home and seeing her as much as I can.
We watch Netflix, make food or order dinner, and then end up hanging out until we’re both ready to crash for the night.
Liam is home sometimes, but he’s been gone for work a lot lately, especially this time of year.
Sometimes Maddie swings by, and then the four of us end up in some weird group non-date.
On nights when it’s just the two of us, sometimes she reads on the couch, and I have to actively concentrate on not getting a hard-on while her feet rest in my lap.
It’s not her feet, but how she allows me to glide my fingers across her cute toes.
She made a comment once about her feet aching, so I offered to rub them, and now I find it hard to keep my hands away.
Even if it’s as friends, a part of me can’t help those feelings of wanting more .
If we crossed those lines, we’d never be able to return to being friends like this.
As both of us are still dealing with our demons, it’s not the right time.
The timing is always wrong, but damn, how I wish it were right.
It’s one of those nights when Liam is out and Maddie has dance class, so Sophie and I will be alone.
I have no desire to go out like before. I like knowing where Sophie is, and that she’s safe.
She probably thinks I have no life outside these walls, but I don’t want that life anymore.
Hustling at work to make sure that promotion stays mine and protecting Sophie are my priorities now.
After work, I head to the gym for an hour, and then I come home to shower. The moment I walk in and hear Sophie sniffling in the living room, my heart pounds with concern.
“Soph?” I ask, dropping my workout bag and walking toward her. She has a book propped up on her knees as she lounges back on the cushions, and I hear her suck in a deep breath as she cries harder. “Hey.” I shake her shoulder a bit, and she startles, whipping her book as she jumps.
I put both hands up in surrender, stepping back. “It’s just me.”
She yanks out her earbuds I didn’t realize she was wearing and scowls. “You scared me to death!”
“Is that why you threw your ten-pound book at me?” I snicker, then reach down to grab it off the floor.
“It was a knee-jerk reaction,” she says defensively. When I hand it back, she wipes her tears away. Her eyes are red and cheeks flushed.
Stepping closer, I cup her face and study her. “Are you okay? Were you crying?”
Sophie’s eyes flutter before her head leans into my palm. But then as if an alarm went off, she snaps back into place and pulls away. “I was reading and listening to music, and the combo made me emotional.”
She sets her book down and then rounds the coffee table and walks toward the kitchen. “How was your day? And your workout? I should’ve known you were home. You smell sweaty.”
She’s rambling, which usually means she’s nervous. The thought makes me smile because, after all this time, I’d assume she wouldn’t be. Especially if she only saw me as a friend.
I follow her and respond. “All good. Glad to be back although we’re dealing with some intense cases. Gives me good fuel for my boxing, though.” I reach into the fridge for a bottle of water, then suck it down. “How was your day? Anything exciting?”