Page 91 of Between Regrets and Promises (Between Us Trilogy #2)

It’s no secret my therapy has progressed very well these past few months, but I certainly didn’t do it alone.

Mason has been by my side the entire time even when he was giving me space.

When it didn’t feel like I was getting better, I’d read my previous journal entries, and it reminded me of how far I’ve come.

For the first time, I’m right where I’m supposed to be, and the timing is finally right.

Since Mason always works later than I do, I text my sisters and see if they want to hang out. Lennon works until four, and Maddie has dance practice, but we can squeeze in a couple of hours of sister time.

Sophie

Can we meet up tonight? Lennon’s house? 5:30?

Lennon

Sounds serious…everything okay?

Maddie

I have a life, you know. Two hour’s notice is not very much for me…

Sophie

That’s fine. I’ll just tell Lennon all the juicy news. See you at 5:30, Lennon!

I’m messing with her, knowing that’ll get her sassy ass in gear.

Maddie

No, you will not! You better wait for me and tell me every detail!

Lennon

Wait? Is this sex gossip? Not fair, I can’t drink!

I chuckle at Lennon’s crying emoji.

Maddie

Me neither!

Sophie

More alcohol for MEEEE!

I send an emoji with a tongue sticking out, and they both send back angry faces.

Lennon

I gotta pick up Allie from Mrs. Locke’s, and then I’ll be home!

Sophie

Great! I’ll bring dinner!

Maddie

Chinese food for me!

Sophie

You’re not even coming, Miss Too-Popular.

Maddie

Shut up. I’ve been waiting three years for this story! Pick me up!

Sophie

Maddie

Maddie, the mature sister.

Once I’m home, I head upstairs to quickly freshen up.

I look around the bathroom and notice Liam’s dirty clothes in a pile.

Ugh . He’s lucky I love his slobby ass so much.

He left yesterday morning for work, and I’m not sure when he’ll be back this time.

Grabbing his crap in my arms, I walk to his bedroom and throw them in his overflowing hamper.

Deciding I’ll be nice this one time, I grab the basket and take it downstairs to the laundry room.

He works so much, and if I don’t clean his clothes, it’ll attract flies.

I reach into the pockets of his jeans and empty them out before shoving them into the washer, and in the third pair, I find a receipt and a gambling chip.

What the hell?

The receipt is for sixteen thousand dollars, and the chip is worth five hundred dollars.

Even stranger, it’s from the Bellagio. Liam never said anything about being in Sin City.

He’s always traveling for work and could’ve made a pit stop, but that’s a lot of money to win in Vegas.

Wouldn’t he tell us or want to celebrate or something?

Deciding to ask him about it later, I put all of the crap from his jeans on the kitchen counter after starting the washing machine. Then I head out to pick up our food.

Sophie

I’m hanging at Lennon’s house for dinner. Stop over if you aren’t working too late. I’m bringing Chinese and could grab you something for later?

Mason

Hang out while the three of you talk about our sex life? Think I’ll pass on that one

I chuckle because he knows us Corrigan sisters too damn well.

Sophie

They don’t want to hear about that, trust me.

Mason

You’re a horrible liar, babe. Even through text.

I send him a smiley face emoji before replying with an I love you!

Once I grab our food order, I pick up Maddie, then head to Lennon’s. She talks my ear off the entire ride there when I refuse to talk about Mason. She’s too impatient to even wait twenty minutes.

“C’mon, just tell me one little detail! Anything. Wait. It wasn’t little, was it?” Maddie pinches her fingers together and arches a brow when I finally park in front of Hunter and Lennon’s apartment.

“How would you even know what’s considered little ?” I tease, grabbing the food, then getting out of the car.

“Um, excuse me. I’ve watched porn before. Plus, I’ve fooled around with a few guys,” she states matter-of-factly, but I’m not buying it. Maddie is always way too eager to share information.

“Okay, one guy. Like two years ago. But still. Big, yay or nay?”

“Don’t you dare tell her anything without me!” Lennon shouts from the staircase.

“You two are relentless!” I laugh, greeting Lennon with a hug. “I doubt Hunter wants to hear that about his friend anyway.”

Maddie follows and gives Lennon a side hug then pushes her way into the apartment and immediately grabs Allie from her highchair.

“Don’t worry,” Hunter calls from the kitchen. “You and Maddie are the reason I bought sound-proof headphones.” He smirks when he pops his head into the doorway.

“Har, har. I think you mean Maddie only.” I set the bag of food on the table where Lennon already has plates and silverware set out.

“I’m sure you two were here years before me, so I can’t be the one to blame.” Maddie puts Allie back in her chair.

Hunter comes in with a plate for Allie and sets it in front of her with a little baby fork and spoon. We all take our seats and eat.

“So what’s Liam think about you two finally hooking up? He’s probably not used to that.” Hunter laughs.

“He’s hardly home but is convinced we’re doing it all over the house and keeps asking if we’ve done it in the living room or kitchen. I’m afraid it’s because he has done it all over the place.”

“Good thing you’ve cleaned that house from top to bottom,” Lennon says, snorting. “Especially since you two are in that honeymoon phase.”

Maddie groans, and we all turn to her rolling her eyes. “The nonstop doing it phase, am I right?”

We all snicker.

“I’m totally selling my virginity.”

“Maddie!” Lennon points at Allie, who is oblivious to any adult conversation happening as she stuffs little pieces of chicken into her mouth. She’s getting so big, and I can’t believe she’ll be one in only a couple of months.

“She doesn’t know what that word means!” Maddie argues.

“But I’d still like that not to be in her vocabulary!” Lennon scolds.

They do this fight and dance at least once a month, which cracks me up.

“Fine! I’m selling my…flowerpot. Happy?” Maddie flashes a snarky smile. “To the biggest…water hose.”

Hunter nearly chokes on his food as he coughs, then tries swallowing it down with his drink. Lennon laughs as she slaps his back. “Water hose trip you up?”

“You’ve been saying you’re gonna ‘sell it off’ for months,” I say, rolling my eyes at her. “Either do it or quit whining about it.”

Maddie responds with a glare. “I’ll be twenty-one soon, and then I’m gonna get…”

Lennon clears her throat and motions to Allie with her eyes as a reminder to watch her words.

“Gonna drink some happy juice.” Maddie grins, wide and taunting. “And get very, very happy. Then I’m gonna pick my water hose and be a full-blown bloomed flower.”

I snort, shaking my head at her. “Just wait until you find the right person. It makes it extra special,” I say with a dreamy sigh. “Trust me.”

“Except you didn’t wait, so why should I trust you?” she fires.

“Because I wish I would have!” I point my fork at her, daring her to keep challenging my older sister knowledge.

“Isn’t it so much better when it’s with someone amazing?” Lennon says, looking at Hunter like he hung the moon.

“It really is,” I agree.

“All you two are missing are the floating hearts above your heads and cartoon stars in your eyes.” Maddie groans, wrinkling her nose in disgust.

“Take it from me, Mads,” Hunter intervenes, grabbing a container of food and dumping it on his plate.

“I had a lot of meaningless one-night stands, and they made me feel empty and gross. Then Lennon happened, and it was nothing like I’d ever experienced before.

It was beyond special, and it meant everything.

I knew I loved her for years before, but getting to experience that shared love is indescribable. ”

“Aww, baby…” Lennon coos.

Maddie mimics a gagging noise, and I snicker.

“You two are relationship goals,” I tell Hunter and Lennon. The moment they finally got together, I knew I wanted what they had. Lennon had a second chance at love after Brandon died, and I’m so happy she took the risk. Hunter’s perfect for her and Allie.

Once we finish eating and clean up, Hunter offers to give Allie her bath and get her ready for bed so Lennon can socialize with us. Lennon gives him a deep, passionate kiss.

“Didn’t know we were getting dinner and a show,” Maddie blurts.

“Hey, you be quiet!” Lennon scowls before releasing Hunter, then he walks down the hallway so we can finally talk.

“Baby kicking?” I ask as she takes a seat on the couch next to me. I rub her bump and beg for movement. “Ooh, was that it?”

“Let me feel!” Maddie pushes me aside.

“Relax,” Lennon says, laughing. “Pretty sure that was gas. I have a food baby in there too.”

Lennon kicks her feet up on the coffee table, and I chat about Mason and me. I want to be respectful of the intimate details of our relationship and knew I wanted to take things slow after the incident with Dalton.

“It was…amazing,” I tell them with a dreamy sigh.

“Friday was completely unplanned. Serena was there being overly touchy with Mason, and I flipped out. Once she and Liam left, he cooked dinner, but we weren’t really talking about what happened.

He was acting a little too giddy for the way I told off his friend, and then he called me out for saying he was my boyfriend .

Something changed for me that night. I didn’t want to wait any longer because being with him felt right.

I love him so much, and I wanted us to share something special.

We ended the night, he kissed me, and we went to our separate rooms.”

“And then what? He snuck into your bedroom and jumped you, right?” Maddie waggles her brows.

“Actually, it was the other way around.” I blush. “I snuck into his room and told him I was ready.”

“Then you spent the entire weekend naked and didn’t come up for air until this morning. Amiright?” Lennon smirks.

“Basically!” I laugh. “I couldn’t get enough, and neither could he. We ate and refueled in between.”

“And now I want to barf,” Maddie says dramatically. Lennon narrows her eyes at her, which causes me to smile. “I’m happy for the two of you, but I hate being the only sister who can’t contribute to these stories.”

I pat her leg. “You will one day. Then it’ll be ‘Maddie’s Sex Stories’ nonstop.”

“Ooh, I like the sound of that. Should totally be a book.” Maddie beams with excitement.

We laugh and chat for another hour before Lennon suggests we FaceTime our parents since the three of us are together.

“That feels wrong after the conversations we just had…” I bite my bottom lip, then shrug. “As long as Maddie doesn’t blurt anything inappropriate, we should be okay.”

“Considering I’m the one who knows both of your secrets, you should know I’m a pro at acting completely normal with Mom and Dad. It’s you two sex addicts who will blow our covers.”

“They know by now not to say anything to me,” Lennon gloats.

We end up talking to our parents for twenty minutes before Lennon uses Allie as an excuse to hang up. They could chat for hours if we didn’t find a way to end the call. We all love them so much, but they will pry into every detail of our lives if given the chance.

“Thanks for bringing dinner.” Lennon gives us hugs before we head out.

“You’re welcome!” I smile. “Oh, don’t forget my fall concert is next week. You’re all coming, right?”

“Of course! We wouldn’t miss it. Mads, I’ll pick you up,” Lennon directs at our little sister. “Don’t be late.”

“You’re the one with the baby, and I’m gonna be late?” She scoffs, and it’s funny the way we both give her shit, but it’s our job as the older sisters. She’s growing into a young woman, and it’s hard to believe she’ll be legal to drink in a few months.

Once I drop Maddie off, I come home to Mason on the couch. Lying down with one arm behind his head and the other over his chest, he’s fast asleep. He’s been working so hard since he was promoted, and I know he wants to prove himself, but I still worry about him burning out.

“Baby…” I whisper, brushing my hand over his cheek. “Go to bed. You won’t be comfortable out here.”

“Mmm…” He stirs. “I was waiting for you. What time is it?”

“Just after nine,” I tell him. “You fell asleep early.”

“Pretty sure I fell asleep the moment I walked into the house,” he murmurs, his eyes still closed.

“Did you eat something?”

“I downed a couple of sandwiches, but I skipped dessert. Get your ass on my face.”

I burst out laughing. “Smooth.”

He finally opens his eyes. “Did you girls have fun tonight?”

“Yeah, we ate dinner, chatted and then FaceTimed our parents.”

“Oh yeah? Did you tell your folks about me yet?” Mason smirks, knowing how strict and religious they are.

“Totally. Confessed that I’m living with you in sin, and we’re now fucking regularly. They told me to give you an attaboy!” I playfully punch his shoulder, and he grins.

“We’ve already discussed wedding vows, so it’s best they’re caught up to speed here.

” He sits up and pulls me onto his lap. Mason brushes his fingers along my cheek and tucks loose strands of hair behind my ear.

“Then I can tell them all about how much I love their daughter and would do anything for her. How I’ll provide for her, care for her, and love her until my dying day. I gotta compete with Hunter now, so…”

I laugh, but my eyes fill with unshed tears at his admission. “You’re too sweet to me,” I tell him softly, leaning my forehead against his.

Mason cups my cheeks and kisses my lips, soft and quick. “I mean it, sweetheart. Until my dying day.”

Nodding, I choke back my emotions. “I know you do. It’s why I love you so damn much.”