Page 70 of Between Regrets and Promises (Between Us Trilogy #2)

SOPHIE

I miss Mason’s touch more than anything. His scent, his kisses, the way he holds me close. His T-shirt is something I can’t let go of either. When the tears threaten to come, I close my eyes and inhale a deep breath. Then I bury my face in his shirt and let them fall.

None of this was supposed to happen. Mason and I were finally on the same page, getting ready to begin our relationship, and then it imploded around us. The strength I hid behind and emotions I pushed down after Weston’s death blew up in my face the moment Dalton captured me.

I’d never been so scared in my entire life. Knowing the guys would come for me, I prayed for a miracle that somehow no one would get shot. My worst fear was that someone would die trying to save me, and I’m thankful every day that didn’t happen.

I’m the fool who let Dalton into my life.

Why didn’t I know better? Why was my gut reaction to befriend a strange man and allow him into my life with hopes to help him instead of fearing him? I can’t get the thoughts out of my mind. I should’ve listened to Mason and not fallen for Dalton’s sob story and charm.

The internal battle keeps me awake at night until I cry myself to sleep. Then the next day comes, and the guilt returns, eating me whole as I try to push the demons away throughout the day.

“Soph? You awake?” Mason calls out, knocking on my door.

“Yeah, come in,” I say without turning around. His feet softly pad against the floor as he enters.

“I brought you some coffee,” he tells me, and I hear the sound of a mug being placed on my nightstand.

“I made breakfast, too, if you’re hungry.

Thought maybe we could talk while we eat.

You can catch me up on everything from this past week.

” His voice sounds hopeful, and I hate that I’m the reason for it.

Though we texted during my trip, I left out a lot of details.

Speaking with that counselor helped me see a lot of things, but it didn’t answer all of my questions.

I’ll continue speaking with a professional, but my biggest worry is that I’ll never be at peace again. Not after an innocent woman died.

Wiping under my eyes, I turn around and sit up, letting my legs hang off the bed. “Thanks, I’m starving.”

I grab my cup and follow him out of my room. He has a whole spread of fruit, eggs, and bacon set up on the kitchen table.

“Wow, you made enough for an army.” I take a seat on one side. “Smells good.”

“Well…I couldn’t sleep. Got up and decided to make breakfast and kinda lost track of time and ended up making more than usual. I’ll save whatever we don’t eat for Liam, though. He’s a machine.”

Mason’s teasing voice has me chuckling, and I nod in agreement. Liam is never not hungry.

He takes the seat across from me, and we both dig in, filling our plates full of food. I haven’t eaten much and have missed his cooking and company.

“This is nice,” I admit, blocking out the darkness that threatens to take over. “Sitting with you over breakfast like before. Feels normal.”

He smiles and nods. “It’s been a lonely week without you. Liam was moping around like a lost kitty.”

“You mean you were, asshole…” Liam chimes in at the perfect time, stalking into the kitchen in only his boxer briefs. Yep, nothing’s changed around here.

“You didn’t miss me, Hulk?” I taunt, wondering if he’ll deny it or call me out for using that nickname he hates.

“Of course I did,” he finally responds after grabbing a plate. He winks, then starts piling food on his plate. “I just didn’t act like a middle schooler nursing their first heartbreak.”

“Hey, Sheila LeBlanc told me I could sit by her at lunch and then changed her mind in fifth period. I was devastated,” Mason retorts, throwing a piece of bacon at Liam who picks it up and eats it. “She was my first girlfriend,” Mason explains.

“Sounded serious.”

“Best three days of my life.” He smirks.

“Three days? You were basically pussy-whipped by then,” Liam mocks, grabbing the milk from the fridge, then chugging it right from the jug.

“That’s gross, Liam!” I scold. “This is why you’re single…”

“Oh, the types of girls he’s had parading around here in our college days wouldn’t blink twice at that. They weren’t exactly after his…manners.”

Then Liam puts it away, faces us, and pats his six-pack abs. “They were definitely after something else.”

“Your one-of-a-kind personality?” I quip before shoving a forkful of eggs into my mouth.

Mason snorts when Liam glares. “Women are all the same. Only see me as a piece of meat. Relationships are so overrated.”

“Ironic when you’re putting a pound of bacon on your plate…” I snicker. “And maybe if you gave it an actual chance, you could find a woman who’s after something more.”

“Look, I love you like a sister, but you’re kinda enough work for me as it is.

Always having to get you out of trouble is my new full-time job.

There’s no time for relationships with you as a roommate.

” He winks, but it causes me to frown. I know he’s joking, but underneath, there’s some truth to it.

“Soph. Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. ”

I lower my gaze, unable to look at either of them. I’ve officially become a damsel in distress who always needs saving.

“Asshole,” Mason mutters. He shoulder punches Liam, then comes to my side.

“You know I’m an idiot, Sophie. Ignore me,” Liam says.

When I look up, he’s sticking out his lower lip in a ridiculously cute pout.

“It’s fine. Seriously. I’m a mess,” I say honestly, but then point my finger at him. “And you were this way before I needed you to save me.”

Liam throws his head back and laughs. “I know, I know. I’m a mess too. But in a different way.” He grins, then leans in and hugs me.

Once he leaves with half the food, Mason comes and places a sweet kiss on my forehead. “I’ll junk punch him later for you.”

That causes me to chuckle, knowing he’ll do it for me. “That’s not necessary. I’m sure there’s a line of chicks he never called back who’d love to do it.”

“Why do you think he hardly ever brings women here anymore? They all knew where to find him, so he started hooking up at their place or in his truck. Finally got smart,” Mason says, laughing.

“Okay, so I’m never riding in his truck again.”

Mason and I fall into light conversation as we eat and things feel easy for a bit.

He meant what he said last night about how he isn’t going to let me pull away as I drown in an ocean of guilt and pain.

It means a lot that he’s willing to ride this out with me, but I wish I could give him more, give him what he deserves.

The tables have turned, and I want to be the very best version of me for his sake.

We spend the day lounging in the living room, watching Netflix and talking about everything and nothing at all.

Neither of us brings up the elephant in the room, though there’s nothing more to say now that he knows I need some relationship distance.

Mason was my friend beforehand, so it’s easy to be with him without it feeling awkward.

That’s something I appreciate and don’t dare take for granted.

He gives me space and doesn’t smother me, refusing to let it affect our friendship.

Liam comes and goes. He’s on his phone a lot, and sometimes he looks tense while other times he’s easygoing. It’s a little strange, but I’ve come to expect that from him. Being a bounty hunter means he could get a call at any time, day or night, and have to leave town at a moment’s notice.

After dinner is delivered, we eat while watching the final season of Lucifer until Lennon and Maddie come over.

I’ve texted back and forth with them all week, but now that I’m back, they want to see me, which I understand.

Mason gives us some privacy, but before he does, he bends down and kisses my forehead.

As soon as he’s upstairs and out of view, Lennon locks her gaze with mine. “What was that?”

“What?” I furrow my brows.

“Did you friend-zone him or something?”

“Because that looked like some brotherly shit,” Maddie adds.

I roll my eyes and ignore their glares. “I told him I needed a little space from the relationship thing right now, and he’s respecting that.”

“Oh, Soph. Why?” Lennon asks sadly. “He literally saved your life.”

“We’re still together,” I confirm. “But I can’t jump back into a full-on relationship until I work out all the chaos going on in my head.”

“Look, I can’t say I know exactly what you’re going through, but I can tell you leaning on Hunter during those hard months really helped me,” Lennon says.

“And I did lean on him after Weston, but this…” I shrug, feeling defeated. “I need to work through it. I want to be the girlfriend he deserves. All in. Not half a person. And right now, that’s how I feel.”

Lennon frowns but nods as if she finally understands. “Okay, I get it. But don’t let him get too far away. Don’t allow him to lose hope that you’ll ever come back to him. He’s so good for you. You’re good for him. You two are perfect for each other.”

“That’s the last thing I want, trust me.”

“Do you have a therapy appointment this week?” Maddie asks.

“Yeah, on Wednesday. The counselor in Utah set it up for me, and then I’ll make weekly appointments going forward,” I explain.

“I think it’ll help you a lot,” Lennon says. “Being pregnant with Allie helped me cope, knowing a piece of Brandon would be left in the world, but I probably should’ve gone at some point to work out my emotions.”

“I feel good about it already. I need to learn some tactics too so I’m not so damn trusting.

It’s not the worst quality to have, but it’s come back to bite me in the ass twice now.

” I shrug, trying to make light of the situation.

“Oh, Mom and Dad told me to yell at both of you for not calling enough,” I add, changing the subject because I’m mentally drained from talking about me.

“They FaceTime me every day!” Lennon defends. “All they want to do is talk to Allie anyway.”