Page 75 of Between Regrets and Promises (Between Us Trilogy #2)

MASON

The past three weeks have been both interesting and strange. After that night when Sophie and I kissed, I’ve been careful to keep my distance and watch for her cues so I don’t overstep her boundaries.

After she said she wasn’t ready, I felt like the biggest asshole in the world. I shouldn’t have lost control, but it seemed right regardless of how wrong it was. It’s been difficult to keep my feelings closed up, but that’s what she needs right now.

I think back to when I lost Emma and how I wanted to do nothing but sleep and drink the pain away. At least Sophie is functioning after what she went through. I’m trying to give her all the time she needs, even if that means I have to wait for years, because I will.

The timing has always been wrong for our relationship because when one of us is ready for more, the other isn’t.

However, I refuse to give up on her, give up on us .

The guilt of crossing the line with her has consumed me.

Though I’ve apologized more than once, and she acts as if it’s no big deal, I know better.

I pushed her too far, too quickly, and felt like a selfish bastard. But it’s hard not to be selfish when it comes to her.

A couple of weeks ago, I was offered the promotion, which has helped keep me busy. Most nights, I’m exhausted when I walk in the door. Although I wish I was spending more time with her, it’s probably best that work distracts me for the time being.

Another early morning comes, and after I get ready for work, I head to the kitchen like always.

Once the coffee finishes brewing, I pour myself a cup and make one for Sophie the way she likes it, knowing she’ll be joining me soon.

After my mug is half empty, I grab ingredients from the fridge and whip up some scrambled eggs and toast.

Like clockwork, Sophie shuffles into the kitchen.

I look over my shoulder as she sits at the table, taking a sip of her drink.

Her hair is a mess, and she offers me a sweet smile.

My heart lurches forward anytime I look at her and have to remind myself to bury my feelings.

Something I should be used to by now, considering I’ve been doing it for years.

Doesn’t mean it’s been easy. Finally getting to a place we’ve both wanted and then having the rug pulled out from under us has brought an internal battle I wasn’t ready for.

“Morning,” she says.

Her sleepy voice is so damn sexy.

“Morning. Sleep well?”

She shrugs. “No worse than usual.”

I place the eggs and toast on two plates, set them on the table, then sit across from her.

We don’t talk much in the mornings, but we don’t have to.

I’m happy to be around her and that she’s here with me.

After we’re done eating, I clean up and rinse our dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.

“How’s work going?”

“Great. Got a few cases to oversee, which is a nice change. Instead of doing the bitch work, I’m assigning it. Finally.” I laugh.

The sweet smile she gives me is everything. She may tell me she can’t, but her unspoken words tell me she still feels the same. It’s enough for me.

“Any big plans today?” I ask, trying to keep the conversation flowing.

“Going to see my therapist for my weekly appointment. Might go grocery shopping so we aren’t always living on pizza and tacos.” She lets out a breath as if she’s nervous about going out in a public space. “Other than that, nothing much. Maybe read a book if I don’t fall asleep.”

“Do you think you’ll go back to work soon?

” I ask. It’s the elephant in the room, and something she’s been avoiding for a while.

I don’t want to force her into anything, but I know what playing the violin means to her.

Plus, Lennon has been asking Hunter to ask me if Sophie’s been playing, and still, she hasn’t.

The last time I helped her carry her clothes to her room, I noticed the case hadn’t moved from the corner for over a month.

She shrugs, then leans on the counter by me.

“I was thinking next week. I need to practice again for our upcoming shows and want to be ready. Plus, I can only take so much leave before it looks like I’m taking advantage.

God forbid something else happens that I need to take off for.

” She sighs with a quiet groan, almost as if she’s anticipating more stuff going wrong in her life.

I tilt my head, then rest my hand on her shoulder, giving it a small squeeze.

“Nothing else is gonna happen. Well, unless Hunter passes out when Lennon gives birth because he nearly did the last time.” I chuckle.

“But take all the time you need, Soph. You don’t have to rush back into something you’re not ready to do. ”

“That’s what Mary says too,” she admits. “I think I’ll be fine to go back on Monday. Maybe it’ll help get me out of my head for a while. Music has a way of healing the people in my family.”

“Good, I hope so.” I wink.

“Need anything from the store?” She walks past me and pours more coffee in her cup. Her arm brushes against mine as my back leans against the counter, and that familiar electric current streams through me. By the way she looks at me with hooded eyes, she feels it too.

“Nah, I’m good.”

Though, I’d be better if her lips were pressed against mine.

“If you change your mind, you’ve got my number.”

“I do. Even got it memorized.”

“Oh yeah?” she asks playfully.

“I only have three numbers memorized, and one is my own so you should feel special that I know yours too,” I tell her, which makes her laugh.

“Trust me, I do.” She blinks, lowering her face as if she’s trying to hide her blush.

She goes to the fridge and adds more creamer, then lets out a sigh after she takes another sip.

I check the time and realize I need to get going. I’m trying to set an example by being punctual although I’d rather shoot the shit with Sophie instead.

“Have a good day, Soph,” I tell her after I refill my to-go mug with coffee.

“You too,” she says, looking me up and down with a cocked eyebrow. It takes all the willpower I have to walk away, and I’m not sure how I do it.

“Wait…” she calls out. “Who’s the third person’s number?”

Smirking, I shove one hand in my pocket. “Our dumbass roommate.”

“For all the times he’s had to bail you out of jail?” she taunts with a side-grin, and it feels good to banter with her again.

I point my finger at her, smiling. “I’m changing your contact name to Sassy Sophie now.” Then I wink, turn around, and get my ass out of there before I do something stupid like take her up against the door.

On the way to work, she’s all I have on my mind. Watching her become more like her old self each day gives me more hope than she knows.

Jerad walks over and gives me a head nod when he checks his watch and sees I’m more than twenty minutes early. “Working on another promotion so soon?”

“You got jokes before eight? Shocking.”

Jerad laughs. “Still a smartass no matter what time of day it is. Morning to you too, Holt.”

I smile, happy to be here, working my dream job.

A stack of files sits on my desk that I need to look over and see if we missed anything that might help solve the case.

There’s been a few that don’t have any leads on suspects, and it’s critical we put all the pieces together to understand what happened.

It’s going to take me the rest of the week to look over the evidence and photographs that were collected, but I don’t have any issues with it.

This is what I’ve worked so damn hard for.

I flip through the photographs of the first case.

Murder. DNA evidence was collected, but it didn’t match anyone in the system.

Logging into the computer, I go to the database that has the digital images stored and zoom into something in the corner of the room that catches my eye.

Making sure I’m not imagining things, I hurry and flip through all of the pictures from the case.

I grab the file and go to Jerad’s office.

Busy typing away on his computer, he gives me a pointed look for interrupting him, then goes back to what he was doing. I swear he lives to agitate me.

“Did anyone realize there’s something on the wall here?” I ask.

Jerad scans over the photos and logs into the digital files on the computer and zooms in. “It looks like a fingerprint, doesn’t it?”

“It does. I didn’t see any information about fingerprints collected in the system. Just hair. But I think there was talk that it might be her roommate’s.”

He rubs his hand across the scruff on his chin. “You might be able to go back out there and see if the apartment is still taped off. It only happened a few days ago, and I remember the complex manager said they were gonna work on renovations early next week.”

I suck in a deep breath, knowing this could help solve this case and give this girl’s family some closure and justice. “I’ll go,” I tell him.

“Take Greg with you.”

I give Jerad a look. “The intern?”

He releases a chuckle. “You were the intern for years. Don’t discredit him because of it. The kid knows his shit.”

“He’s egotistical and thinks he knows everything.” I groan and roll my eyes.

“So do you,” he throws back at me.

“Touché. I’ll grab him, and we’ll go and see if we can get access.”

Jerad hands me the files, and before I leave, he praises me for a job well done.

It makes me feel like a badass although the work has only begun.

Greg sits at his desk, shuffling papers, and looks up when I walk by.

He’s so fucking young, but I refuse to be a hypocrite and treat him the same way everyone treated me when I was fresh blood in the office.

“You’re coming with me today. Grab your shit, I’m leaving now.” I don’t stop or give him a choice, and he catches on quickly because I hear him behind me seconds later.