Page 71 of Between Regrets and Promises (Between Us Trilogy #2)

“I called them two weeks ago,” Maddie adds. “There’s literally nothing happening in my life besides having no job, no boyfriend, and going to class.”

“Oh, you poor thing,” I tease. “No drama. What that must be like…”

“Pfft. There’s plenty of drama with dancers. My roommate, Erin, and her frenemy Melanie, have it out weekly.”

“Sounds like a reality show.”

Maddie walks to the kitchen and helps herself to a diet soda before she returns.

“How come no one told me college is basically high school with older, snotty girls?” She has a bag of pretzels with her too, which makes me laugh.

She got lucky in the genetics department, but she works out every day.

Eating a handful of those would cause me to bloat for two days.

“We wanted you to go in blind and experience college wholeheartedly,” Lennon mocks, stealing a handful of pretzels.

“Yeah, thanks.” Maddie groans, then shoves three salty pretzel sticks in her mouth. “Seriously, it’s so stressful living in those apartments with them. First, they eat all my damn snacks…”

“Wouldn’t know what that’s like.” I deadpan.

“And then they hog the bathroom. I constantly have to take five-minute showers so I’m not late for class. Apparently, none of them know how to clean either. They’re gross.”

“Grosser than living with two guys?” I arch a brow, challenging her.

“I think so. At least your man cooks, and the other, well…he’s nice to look at,” she says with dreamy eyes.

“You have two years left, Mads,” Lennon reminds her. “It can’t be that bad.”

Maddie narrows her eyes. Then she stuffs another handful of pretzels into her mouth.

An hour passes before Lennon gets a text that Allie is asleep and Hunter is in their bed waiting for her.

“Please, spare us the details.” Maddie mimics a gagging noise. “We all know your pregnancy hormones make you horny.”

“ Hornier …” I add.

“Oh, you just wait…” Lennon pokes her shoulder. “You’ll find a man, give your heart to him, and you won’t be able to get enough of each other.”

Maddie rolls her eyes hard, which causes me to laugh. They were just what I needed to lift my spirits for a bit.

“Okay, you better leave before Lennon starts teaching you about the birds and the bees,” I tell Maddie.

I walk them to the door where we exchange hugs, and I promise to keep them updated on my therapy sessions.

“Race you to the car,” Maddie taunts Lennon, then starts running in slow motion down the walkway. “Bet I can still win going this slow.”

I burst out laughing, knowing Lennon is going to kick her ass for teasing her. She’s not that far along, but she’s definitely more exhausted than she was with the last pregnancy. However, that’s probably from having a nine-month-old baby at home to care for at the same time.

“Good luck at work tomorrow.” She goes back to teaching now that it’s the middle of August. She’s been struggling with having to be away from Allie all day again.

“Thanks, I’m gonna need it.” She sticks out her bottom lip, weeping. “I don’t want to leave her, and my students are gonna give me a run for my money, but it’ll be okay. The countdown to my maternity leave has already started.”

That makes me laugh. “Baby will be here before we know it.”.

“She’s rounding second base…” Maddie calls out. “Think she’ll make it to home base before the pregnant mama can waddle her way to first?”

We look at Maddie who’s running toward the car in slow motion. “I’m gonna make her ass walk home.” Lennon waves over her shoulder, and when she reaches the car, she doesn’t unlock Maddie’s side.

“Hey! I won fair and square! Let me in!” Maddie bangs on the window, and Lennon laughs from the driver’s side.

“You made your bed!” I call out to her, and she flips me the bird. “Night, little sis!” I wave, then shut and lock the door.

“You girls have fun?” I spin around and bump right into Mason.

“You scared the shit out of me!” I scold, pressing a hand to my chest as I catch my breath. “Don’t do that.”

Mason raises his hands. “Sorry, I thought you heard me.”

“No, I was too busy watching my sisters taunt each other.” I follow him into the living room but don’t sit. “And yeah, it was fun. I think I’m gonna go to bed, though.”

“Are you staying home from work?”

“Yeah, I think I will be for a while. It isn’t in me right now,” I admit, though it pains me to say. Playing the violin has always come so natural to me, but lately, it’s been hard. I used to crave it. Practicing would breathe life into me as I hit the notes and made music, but not anymore.

“Take as long as you need, Soph. There’s no rush,” he reassures me. “I’m sure your director understands.”

“He does. Thankfully.”

Mason wraps his arms around me and cradles my head as he hugs me to his chest. I inhale his musky scent, the one I miss so damn much, and lose myself in it for a moment. Before putting space between us, he kisses my forehead, but his lips linger before he releases me.

“Sweet dreams, baby.” He shoves his hands into his pockets and walks away. He’s fighting the urge to touch me, and it makes me feel like shit for putting this space between us. But it’s what I need to do until I find myself again.

“Mason, wait.” I take a step, and he spins around. “Can I ask you a weird question?”

“Of course. You can ask me anything.”

Inhaling a deep breath, I bite my lower lip. “Can I have your shirt?”

One brow arches as he stares at me. “My shirt?”

“Yeah. I took one with me to Utah, and well, the smell is kinda fading. So can I have the one you’re wearing? It helps me sleep.” I shrug, embarrassed to admit that.

Mason pulls his shirt off, then hands it to me. “You can have any shirt you want, sweetheart.”

I hold it in my hands against my chest. With Mason’s abs on full display, it’s hard to look away. “Thank you.” I suck in the smell, grinning. “I’m sorry for?—”

He cuts me off before I can continue. “Don’t be, Soph. You have nothing to be sorry for, okay? I’m here ,” he reminds me, cupping my face and rubbing a thumb along my cheek, so soft and sweet. “I’m not going anywhere .”

Nodding, I smile weakly before walking to my room. It’s not until I shut my door that I catch him watching me. He gives me a wink before turning to go upstairs to his bedroom. As soon as I shut my door, I sink to the floor, tears covering my cheeks as I bury my face in his shirt.

I hate that I can’t fight this. This feeling of being so damn weak and ignorant. I want to lean on him, but I can’t always depend on someone else to lift me up. I allowed a terrible man into our lives, and Mason may forgive me for it, but I can’t forgive myself.

Not this time.