Page 95 of Between Regrets and Promises (Between Us Trilogy #2)

MASON

Mason

Please tell me it’s not true.

I hit send and hold my breath when the jumping dots appear on the screen. Then they disappear.

Mason

Don’t lie to me.

Serena

I’m sorry.

Mason

That’s it? That’s all you’re gonna say?

Serena

I fucked up, Mason. I’m so sorry.

I toss my phone, shaking my head, not wanting to believe it. Being betrayed by my father is nothing new, but Serena? She was the closest thing I had to a sister. Now I don’t know what to think. My dad’s a sleazeball, and he’ll never change. How the hell did Serena end up with him?

Deciding I need to blow off steam, I pack my workout bag and head to the gym.

Tyler isn’t there to box with me, so I work solo with a punching bag until my hands are sore and sweat drips into my eyes.

The pain feels good, and it helps clear my head as usual, but the frustration returns once I’m home, and the memory of my father telling me the news returns.

After I shower and hide in my room for a half hour, I hear a knock on my bedroom door, and Liam slowly opens it, giving me a pitiful look. Sophie knew I needed some time and left me to wallow alone. She wants to be here for me but didn’t push when I insisted I needed a minute to think this through.

“You’ve got a visitor,” he finally says.

I furrow my brows, not in the mood to talk to anyone. “Who is it?”

Liam glances at the floor, then at me. “Serena. She looks like shit. Like she’s been crying.”

I groan, letting my head fall back. “Fuck.” Brushing a hand through my hair, I push myself up and follow him down the hall. When I get to the bottom of the stairs, I frown when I notice how distraught she is.

“Can we talk? Please?” she asks when I stand in front of her. I look over my shoulder at Sophie who’s sitting on the couch with a book. She meets my gaze and gives me a small smile and nods.

“Yeah, let’s go in the back room.” I lead her through the living room and kitchen until we’re there. The pool table sits in the middle, and it’s been untouched for weeks. “Want a drink?” I ask as she takes a seat on one of the chairs against the wall. “Of water,” I add.

“No, I’m okay. Thanks, though.” She wipes away the tears on her cheeks. “I’m sorry to show up like this, but I didn’t want to talk over text. You deserve an explanation face to face.”

I sit across from her, leaning back with my arms crossed. “I agree.”

Serena inhales a sharp breath. “I tried telling you so many times but kept chickening out. It’s why I was coming around more. The guilt of what I did was eating at me, but every time I told myself I needed to rip off the Band-Aid, I got scared of losing you.”

“You should’ve told me,” I snap. “A lot fucking sooner than this.”

“I know.” Her face falls into her hands before she looks up again. “I caused so much shit between you and Sophie when I should’ve been up front, but like I said, I was scared to lose you as a friend and also worried after everything you two had been through.”

“I could’ve handled hearing it from you, Serena. But having to hear it from the man I hate was a real low blow.”

Serena nods, wiping her cheeks. “We weren’t like hooking up regularly or anything, in case you wondered. It only happened twice. Not that it matters at this point, but I don’t want you thinking I was sneaking around and lying to you.”

“So how’d it happen? You being with my dad alone?” I ask, not wanting the gross details, but I need something to help ease this frustration that weighs heavy on my chest.

“He asked to meet with me a few weeks after your plea hearing, and so I did, thinking it was about your case. I mean, it started that way. We discussed the Westbrooks, and he didn’t think you were out of the woods yet, then asked me to keep an eye on you.

Then he started asking me questions about us, like if we were dating.

When I explained our friendship, something shifted.

We started drinking, mostly because I was nervous around him.

He’s the DA, and the last thing I wanted was to make a bad impression because I’m your lawyer.

After shit went down with Emma, I wasn’t sure how he’d treat me.

Then as the conversation moved to things more personal, I let my inhibitions go and allowed the alcohol to direct my actions.

It’s not an excuse, and you have every right to be pissed or hell, hate me, because I hate myself a little right now too. ”

“So you got drunk and slept together? That’s what happened?”

“The first time, yes. It was reckless, and I should’ve known better.

The second time was the night Sophie and I had that fight, and I left here upset.

I ended up at the bar and stupidly drunk texted him.

I don’t know what I was thinking, and that’s a shit excuse, but he picked me up, and we hooked up again.

I regretted it the moment it happened. Last week, I realized I was late, and that’s when I took a pregnancy test. He didn’t take the news very well, as you can imagine.

” Her bloodshot eyes lower. She’s been crying a lot.

“What’d he do when you told him?” I ask harshly. My father isn’t a sensitive man, so I doubt he was kind.

“Told me he wanted to pay for an abortion. When I told him I didn’t want that, he threatened my career. When I still didn’t fold to his demands, he said he was gonna make a deal so no one found out.”

“Did he explain what the deal was?” I ask.

“Only a few hours ago. He called and said that you offered to take responsibility and that from now on, I was to have no contact with him until a paternity test could be done. He said if it was confirmed, he’d pay financially but that was it.”

“Such a fucking asshole,” I growl. “He marched in here, throwing around threats for me to clean up his mess. I told him to fuck right off.”

“Mason, I’m so sorry,” Serena says between sobs. “I don’t know why he thinks he has to involve you. I’m not gonna tell the media he’s the father anyway.”

“This is his way of covering his tracks in case you decide to blast him anytime in the future. His whole job is doing damage control for all his shady practices. Perhaps you should sell your story. Someone needs to burst his image bubble.” I huff.

“That puts you at risk, Mason. I’d never do that to you.”

I shrug. “He can’t be sure of the outcome, so he’s throwing out theories. Even if one of my cases gets reopened, I have the best lawyer in the state to help me fight it.” I wink, and she smiles for the first time since she got here.

“Mason, are you sure? You tell your dad no, and he’s gonna lose his shit.”

“He’s tried to control me my whole life. I’m not about to let him start now. He can walk around looking over his shoulder for once, waiting to see if you blow his cover.”

“I’m not gonna say anything, but it’d be nice to have the upper hand by letting him think I could.” She smirks, which makes me grin.

“Thatta girl. Don’t let him be a douchebag to you. Make him pay child support and anything else you need, and don’t allow him to get away with this. If he didn’t want to jeopardize his name, then he should’ve thought about that years ago.”

“Thank you,” she says softly. “I’ve been sick over this and how to tell you. You’re one of my best friends, and I royally fucked up.”

I stand with a smirk, and I pull her into a hug. “Come here.”

Serena wraps her arms around my waist, and I hold her tight against me.

“You know the baby is gonna technically be my sister or brother.”

She giggles. “I know. Weird, right?”

I pull back, laughing. “Very.”

We stroll into the living room, and Sophie quickly sets her book down. “Hey. Everything okay?”

“Yeah, it will be,” I tell her, glancing at Serena. “My father’s a fuckwad, but that’s nothing new.”

“Serena, I want to say how sorry I am for the way I acted the last time you were here. I never should’ve?—”

“No, you have nothing to apologize for,” Serena cuts her off. “You’re protective of your relationship with Mason, which confirms how much you love him. No need to be sorry for that.” Serena smiles. “I really am happy you two are together.”

“Thank you,” Sophie says. “Congrats on the baby, even if the circumstances aren’t what you expected.”

Serena wipes away her tears. “Thanks. I’m excited to be a mom and have a baby. Even if I have to do it alone.”

“You won’t be alone,” I immediately tell her. “You know I’m not going anywhere.”

“My sister Lennon is pregnant with her second, and I’m sure she can give you mom tips. You two would get along.”

“You’re both more than I deserve.” Serena gives Sophie a hug, then me. “I’ll keep you updated. I have my first appointment next week.”

“You have everything packed?” I ask Sophie the morning after Thanksgiving.

It’s been three weeks since I learned about Serena and my dad. After telling him to kiss my ass and that neither me nor Serena were going to lie on his behalf, he basically told me to “prepare” for the worst. Then I told him to fuck off and blocked his number.

He should be kissing my ass, considering I could tell his wife, and she could do whatever she wants with the information.

But knowing Hallie, she won’t do anything.

She loves her luxurious lifestyle too much to rock the boat.

On top of that, it’d be my little sister Michaela paying the price, and I don’t want her involved in any of his scandals either.

She’s only five, and even if our father’s a piece of shit, he spends time with her and gives her anything she wants.

I’d rather she have some kind of father figure than be left with nothing.

“Just about ready!” she calls out.

When I walk into her room and lean against the doorframe, I smirk at the mess on her bed. “What’re you doing?” I ask with a chuckle. It doesn’t look like she’s started.

“Wondering if I have room for one more book…” She digs through three large books and hums.