Page 77 of Between Regrets and Promises (Between Us Trilogy #2)

I smirk, then let her have it before returning to the bar for another.

While I’m waiting, I watch the table and notice how Sophie acts when Serena tries to talk to her, and that’s when it dawns on me what her issue is…

she’s jealous. Leaning against the bar, I continue to study her and how stiff and rude she’s being, and while Serena may not notice, I certainly do.

Wanting to see if my theory is correct, I go back to my chair and see the side glares Sophie throws at her.

Serena tries to start a conversation about the symphony, but Sophie isn’t having it.

All the answers she gives are short and to the point.

Maybe I’m reading the situation wrong and she doesn’t want to talk about work since she hasn’t been there for the past month, but my gut tells me otherwise.

She sees Serena as a threat, which is crazy to me.

After our dinner arrives, and we finish eating, Hunter and Lennon have to go pick up Allie from the sitter, so they say their goodbyes.

Then we end up by the pool tables like old times.

“Wanna play with me?” Maddie asks Liam in such a seductive tone, it causes me to nearly choke on my drink.

Liam tilts his head at Maddie, looks her up and down, and there’s no denying the attraction.

I laugh when Liam adjusts himself and actively looks away from her.

I don’t know how long their little cat-and-mouse game is going to last, but it’s hilarious to watch.

As the two of them allow their competitive nature to take over, Sophie sits at a high top table and drinks her martini, but she’s quiet. Taking advantage of getting her alone, I walk over to her and smile.

“Everything okay?” I ask, then take a sip of my beer. “Liam’s playing your favorite game.”

She nods without looking at me, putting a brick wall between us, one so tall, there’s no way I’m getting over it.

“Are you sure?” I ask again, just as Serena walks up and loops her arm through mine.

“Wanna play after them? See if I can beat you for once?” She shoots me a wink.

Sophie continues to sit with her jaw locked and her gaze on everything but me , and I don’t know why she’s being like this. Serena is a close friend, always has been. Plus, Sophie knows our history.

“One minute,” I tell Serena, loosening my arm from her grip, and she glances at Sophie, finally noticing how pissed she is.

“Okay. I’ll be right over there,” she sheepishly says and leaves us be.

“Go ahead.” Sophie tilts her head toward Liam, Maddie, and Serena.

I suck in a deep breath, wishing she wasn’t acting like this, wishing she knew she had nothing in the damn world to worry about. “Soph.”

“I’m about to go home,” she says matter-of-factly, pushing her still full martini away.

She looks at me, grabs her clutch, and goes to Maddie to say she’s leaving.

Maddie volunteers Liam to take her home since they’re not done with their game.

Seconds later, Sophie’s walking out of the door with keys in her hands and no goodbye.

Liam looks at me. “What the hell did you do?”

“I think I’m gonna head out too,” Serena interrupts before I can respond. “Call me so we can talk later, okay?”

I give her a nod and thank her for coming.

“I didn’t do shit,” I tell Liam. “I tried talking to her, and she gave me the cold shoulder.”

Maddie shakes her head.

“What?” I snap.

“Sophie’s pissed.”

“Thanks, Captain Obvious. Gonna tell me why now?” I wait for her to answer, and all she does is laugh.

After crossing my arms and glowering at her, she continues, “If you haven’t figured it out yet, you’re stupider than I thought.” She turns with the cue stick in her hand, then leans over and hits a solid into a side pocket. I don’t wait around for her to talk shit like usual before I head out too.

By the time I make it home, I’ve had too much time to think about tonight. The attitude, the annoyance, the dirty looks Sophie threw Serena’s way—there’s no reason for any of it, and by Hunter’s and Liam’s remarks, I wasn’t imagining things.

When I walk inside, Sophie’s sitting on the couch, already changed into different clothes. She doesn’t look and focuses all of her attention on the TV.

“What’s your problem?” I ask. Crossing my arms over my chest, I stand at the end of the couch.

She shrugs. “Not sure what you’re talking about.”

“Not sure? You’re not sure?”

She narrows her eyes, her face expressionless as she speaks firmly. “Please tell me you’re not that dense, Mason.”

“Enlighten me then.” I lift my arms and let them smack against my sides.

“Serena. Why did you invite her to something I arranged for you tonight?”

The question confuses me.

“Because she’s my friend. She’s done a lot for me over the years, and when she asked about my plans tonight, I thought she’d want to celebrate my promotion too.

She’s like an annoying big sister.” Which is the truth.

She’s always looked out for me and has never given me any indication of wanting more.

Nevertheless, I notice she’s growing more frustrated with me. “Never mind,” she snaps, turning off the TV and walking to her room, then slamming the door shut. Refusing to make it that easy for her to drop this, I follow and walk inside her room.

“We’re having this conversation right now.” By the look on her face, she knows she can’t escape me.

“Fine,” she says, sighing. “I see the way she looks at you, Mason. And the way she touches you, flirts with you, how her eyes shine when you give her the tiniest bit of attention.”

“That’s not true,” I argue.

“Really?” Sophie tilts her head at me. “She leans into you when you talk to her. I watched her touch your arm. We’re in limbo, so it’s not like it matters anyway.

I’m not sure why I’m even upset. If you want to be with her, you should be.

You two would probably make a better couple, anyway, considering you have so much in common.

Not to mention she’d at least put out for you. ”

“Jesus, Soph.” I take a step toward her, feeling like she slapped me across the face. “It’s not like that. Serena’s a flirty person and has always been that way. You’re looking for something that’s not there, but I don’t know why.”

Her mouth falls open as if I’ve slapped her. “Leave. You’re treating me as if I’m making this shit up, and I’m not. You need to leave right now before I say something I might regret later.”

“That’s how you feel? That I should be with Serena? Take her out on dates and make her my girlfriend and fuck her?” I’m so pissed and wish she’d realize she’s the only woman I want. The only one I’ve wanted for years.

Sophie tenses as if my words affected her. “I can’t give you what you need, so you might as well. Considering she’s so willing…”

I shake my head and drop my arms. “Don’t you realize how absurd this is? I’m standing here fighting for you, telling you I don’t want Serena and asking you to see what’s right in front of you. Why are you looking for a fight? Haven’t we been through enough to get to this point?”

She stands and points to the door, her chest heaving as my words sink in. “Just leave. I don’t want to talk about this right now and want to be alone.”

“Soph,” I whisper, pleading with my eyes for her to stop pushing me away. She’s all I want. Why can’t she see that? She stands her ground as my heart deflates. “Alright, fine.” I walk out of her bedroom, then climb the stairs. I notice Liam’s door is open down the hall and poke my head inside.

“Everything okay?” he asks, flicking on his TV.

I sit on the edge of the bed and scrub my hands over my face. “I want to be there for her, give her everything she needs, but anytime I make some sort of progress, she slips through my fingers, and I have to start over. The moment we get closer, she pushes away again.”

He unpacks a duffle bag of clothes, and I can only imagine how long they’ve been in there. By the smell, a while.

“Well, she’s not wrong about Serena.” I narrow my eyes at him, and he shrugs.

“She’s not. I don’t know if Serena wants you or wants to screw around, but she’s flirty around you.

Whether or not it’s harmless, it obviously bothers Sophie.

She’s in a fragile state of mind right now, so everything probably feels escalated, but perhaps validating her concerns instead of brushing them off would tell Sophie that you respect her feelings. ”

“Of course I respect her feelings. Our friendship has always been like that. Serena checks up on me like an older sibling, and I tease her for having no other friends. It’s how we are. It doesn’t mean she wants something more.”

With an eyebrow popped, he gives me a pointed look. “Have you ever thought of asking her?”

“No.” I wince. “Up until recently, I hadn’t realized I needed to. I’ve made it very clear that I’m in love with Sophie. Plus, Serena and me—no.” I shake my head. “She’s Emma’s sister. I don’t see her that way at all .”

“Well, might want to think about asking her, that way the air is cleared and you’ll know for sure. Otherwise, what other explanation is there for why she’s been coming around so much?” he asks.

“She’s worried about me, though she doesn’t have to be. She thought I’d spiral down again after Weston and Dalton. But she also saved my ass.”

“Or…” A booming laugh fills the room. “It’s because you’re available. You and Sophie haven’t progressed, so maybe, in her mind, she thinks she has a chance.”

My brows pinch together at the thought. “I don’t want her. I never wanted her. There’s nothing there, and that line has never been crossed— never will be crossed,” I declare.

“Yeah, but it doesn’t mean she doesn’t want it to happen.

Put yourself in Sophie’s shoes. She’s trying to get her head right and wants to be the woman for you but in her own time.

It’s already difficult enough for her as it is, but then Serena comes around flaunting her tits and batting her eyes at you every second she can.

I know you don’t want her, but does Sophie know that? ”

“Well, I tried telling her tonight, but she wasn’t having it. Said maybe I’d be better with her anyway.”

Liam chuckles, shaking his head.

“What, Dr. Know-it-all?”

“You honestly know nothing about women, huh? I’m shocked you ever got laid.”

I roll my eyes. “Jesus fuck. Get on with it…”

“That’s her way of pushing you away because of her own insecurities on top of what she’s already feeling guilty about—your weird relationship status that is.

So with all of that and then seeing you with Serena tonight, I can see why she acted the way she did.

She planned this for you tonight, and you essentially brought a date. ”

“Oh my God,” I groan, my head falling back as my temples throb. “A friend. I brought a friend! You came tonight. Does that mean you came as my date too?”

“Well, you did buy drinks,” he mocks. “Serena’s different, and you know it. She’s at the house a lot, and you two have a friendship Sophie can’t understand because it’s still new to her. You’re gonna need to do more than just tell her. You need to show Sophie that she’s the one you want.”

“Well, it’s hard to describe Serena’s and my friendship because we have a bond most people don’t, and after all this time, I’ve never noticed her changing how she acts around me.

But I guess I can see how it looks from the outside, even if it’s nothing,” I say.

“But I guess I’ll have to show her, then. ”

“Thatta boy, now you’re learning.” Liam slaps my shoulder with a shit-eating grin.

Standing, I slap him right back. “Thanks, Dr. Liam. Who knew you had so many special skills? Wait, don’t answer that. You’re your own biggest fan.”

“Ha!” He beams. “And my pleasure. But next time, I’m charging you.”

Shaking my head, I walk out of his room and go to the bathroom. Right now, after this revelation, I need a cold shower.