Page 86 of Between Regrets and Promises (Between Us Trilogy #2)

SOPHIE

The temperatures have finally started to drop now that the middle of October is upon us. I’ve been waiting for this for months, though I’ve been wearing sweaters and boots for weeks. Fall is my favorite season, and I count down to it every year.

This morning, I’m meeting Lennon at the doctor’s office so we can find out if I’m getting another niece or a nephew. As I make a cup of coffee to go, Mason enters the kitchen.

“You’re up early,” he says, running his fingers through his messy hair.

I take a sip of coffee and look him up and down, taking in all his muscles and the way his pants hang on his hips.

Would it be inappropriate to show my therapist a picture of him so she can see what I have to look at every day?

Sometimes, I think I’m ready to take our relationship to the next step, but then I second-guess everything and don’t.

Mason’s been so damn patient, letting me take the lead and never pushing me.

Hell, even I’m getting blue balls at this point.

But I’m making amazing progress in therapy, and the nightmares and anxiety have slowly drifted away.

I still get anxious at times, but I’m way better at managing it than before.

“Lennon’s appointment is at eight, and it’s across town, so I have to get through early morning traffic,” I remind him.

He pours himself a cup and leans against the counter. “Oh yeah. I forgot. Any bets as to what you think she’s having?”

“Hmm.” I pucker my lips and tap my finger on the outside. “I think it’s a boy and so does Hunter. Lennon doesn’t have a preference. Maddie thinks it’s a girl. Well, she’s convinced it’s a girl.”

Mason grins, and I love the way his cheeks have a little dip in them. Sometimes, he catches me staring at them but doesn’t call me out on it. “Maybe it’s twins.”

“Nah, she’d know that by now, but hell, stranger things have happened.” I check the time and realize I need to finish getting ready and get going. “Love the view, but I gotta go,” I say, admiring him one last time.

“You can look anytime you want.” He shoots me a wink.

“Would it kill you to wear a shirt once in a while?” I tease, knowing damn well I don’t mind.

“Would it kill you not to wear a shirt once in a while? Then we can be twinsies.” He waggles his brows, and I snort and roll my eyes at his pathetic joke.

“Ha-ha. Bye.” I walk away before I do something stupid like reach out and touch him.

While driving to meet Lennon, a smile touches my lips.

It’s finally Friday, and I’ve had a good week so far.

Actually, the past few haven’t been bad.

I write in my anxiety journal a little less each week, and playing my violin feels normal again.

I’ve also thought about calling my old students to take up tutoring again.

Right now, I’m in a good place mentally.

The only thing I need to work through is Mason’s and my relationship, but I’m taking my own advice and allowing it to happen organically.

Mason’s not some fling to me. He’s more than that.

He always has been, and I knew the moment I met him that he wasn’t just some guy .

When I pull into the parking lot, I park next to Lennon’s car. I take a huge gulp of coffee, then grab my clutch and head out. As soon as I enter the waiting room, I find Hunter, Lennon, and Maddie all cracking up as Allie babbles.

“Allie Cat,” I say, holding my hands out, and Lennon happily hands her over.

“I need coffee.” She groans. During her last pregnancy, she refused to drink a drop, and she’s worse than me when it comes to coffee time, so she’s still struggling.

Allie’s in a good mood. “You’re getting so big. Did you miss your auntie Sophie?” She’s almost ten months old and could start walking any time now, and then she’ll be into everything.

I sit on the other side of Maddie and bounce Allie on my lap. She giggles, and it’s the cutest thing. I can’t believe how much she looks like Lennon, but I see features of Brandon too.

“So any final guesses before we go in the back?” I ask Lennon.

“Nope!” She stays firm with her answer. “I’ll be happy either way.”

“It’s a boy,” Hunter says matter-of-factly. As if it’ll be true if he keeps saying it.

“Girl, one hundred percent.” Maddie sticks her tongue out at him. I think she chose the opposite sex so she could fuck with Hunter. She loves getting under his skin and teasing him, but I don’t think he minds it. He always talks about how we’re the sisters he never had.

A woman calls Lennon’s name, and we all follow through the hallway into the ultrasound room.

It feels so surreal being here again while holding Allie.

The last time we were here was when we found out Allie was a girl, and we were all so excited.

So much has changed in so little time for all of us.

It almost makes my head spin thinking about it.

The ultrasound tech introduces herself as Cassie and explains everything beforehand although Lennon has an idea of what to expect.

Once her shirt is lifted and her jeans are lowered, Cassie places the wand on Lennon’s belly.

Lennon’s watching the screen while Hunter sits close, holding her hand, not letting her go.

The love they share for each other can be felt by every person in the room.

“The doctor wants me to do a series of measurements, and then I can check the gender if you want to know…” Cassie grins, tapping buttons on her machine.

“We do!” Maddie answers for everyone, and I chuckle.

“He or she is definitely active today. You must’ve drunk something sweet,” Cassie says.

“I had OJ this morning,” Lennon admits. “And I haven’t peed yet, so don’t push that too hard on my bladder,” she teases, but I remember with Allie she did the same.

Cassie continues taking measurements and taking pictures of the brain and heart before she asks, “Ready, Mom and Dad?”

“Yep!” Lennon smiles. “Mostly because I want to put this argument between them to rest.” She glares at Hunter and Maddie.

“Ahh, plain as day…” Cassie zooms in and snaps a photo.

“It’s a boy?” Hunter stands, waiting on edge for confirmation.

“Oh, you want to know right now?” She teases, then nods as she types something over the screen: It’s a Boy!

I bounce Allie on my knee. “Sweet girl, you’re gonna have a baby brother! How exciting for you!” She has no clue what I’m saying, but I like to pretend she does.

Hunter bends down and cups Lennon’s face before kissing her. My emotions bubble over at how happy they are. After their adorable moment, Hunter turns and holds out his hand. “You owe me fifty bucks, Mads!”

“Wait, you bet for real?” I ask, laughing at Maddie’s annoyed expression.

Once Cassie finishes getting everything she needs for the doctor, she prints off half a dozen ultrasound photos.

After Lennon cleans off her belly and readjusts her clothes, Hunter helps her up and whispers sweet nothings that make her blush.

Then Maddie takes Lennon’s phone and forces all three of them to pose with the printout.

Cassie tells us to get together so she can snap a photo for us although we’re all crammed into the little room.

Before we make it outside, Lennon’s on FaceTime with our parents, letting them know the exciting news. She’s crying and keeps saying she doesn’t know why she’s crying, but I do. Happiness like hers is hard to keep in. Not to mention, her hormones are going haywire.

As we’re walking through the lobby, I hand Allie over to Hunter.

As he carries her outside, he tells her she’s going to be the best sister in the world, and it’s so cute the way he talks to her.

As we walk to our cars, Lennon stops in the middle of the parking lot.

“I forgot to tell you the other good news! Pregnancy brain!”

“More good news?” Maddie asks.

“You’re getting a puppy?” I ask.

“Nope.” Lennon grins.

“You bought a house?” Maddie bounces on her feet. “With a spare room so I can move in?”

“Oh hell no,” Hunter blurts.

“Language!” Lennon gives him the evil eye. “We don’t need our kid’s first words being that.”

“I give up,” I finally say.

“Same,” Maddie agrees.

“We chose our wedding date,” Lennon exclaims.

I pull her into a hug. “Oh my gosh, that’s so exciting. When is it?”

“May seventh. It gives me a little time after the baby’s born to get back in shape, and then we can focus on finding a house after all the wedding planning is done.”

“Aww…I think it’s perfect.” I give her a hug, and then her tears start again. “You’re a hormonal mess.”

We laugh. “I know. God. I cried over a diaper commercial yesterday. It was the stupidest thing. The baby was happy and walking, and I burst into tears.”

I snort.

“Have I mentioned how I can’t wait to start practicing making babies?” Maddie blurts, looking at her nails with a smirk.

Lennon and I both glare at her.

“Practicing making babies actually makes babies.” Lennon points down at her tummy. “Don’t forget that.”

Hunter agrees as we make it to their car, and he puts Allie in her car seat and buckles her up. “So much truth to that.”

“Well, don’t forget that after this one is born,” I tease. “Then again, I want more nieces or nephews so…”

“Can I have this baby first before you’re pushing for a basketball team?” Lennon groans.

“I guess. But just know, they’ll be waiting a while before they get cousins, so they need siblings to play with for now.” I flash her a shit-eating smirk because she knows I’m right.

“Well, I don’t know…” Hunter begins. “According to Maddie, she’s ready to have Liam’s offspring yesterday.”

Lennon rolls her eyes and nudges him. “We aren’t encouraging that.”

Snickering, I pull Lennon into another hug and tell her how much I love her. Maddie wraps her arms around the both of us and we stand together in an emotional mess.

“I love you two so much,” I murmur. “I don’t take a day of being here with you guys for granted.”

Lennon’s bottom lip trembles. “Stop, or I’ll be crying all damn day.”