Page 86 of Between Secrets and Obsession

“How’s that gonna work? I mean…can you do long distance with someone you’re married to?” he asks, then takes a gulp of his beer.

Shrugging, I blink and focus back on the TV. “It’s been working out fine so far.”

“When are you gonna tell me the real reason you got hitched to someone you barely know?” While his voice is devoid of judgment, I’m certain he has an opinion about the abrupt nuptials.

“Who says I don’t?”

“Because I knowyouwell enough to know you don’t. How does a guy go from avoiding relationships to being married overnight?” Mason scrubs his hand along his jawline, eyeing me curiously. While he may mean well, I wish he’d really back the hell off.

I clear my throat. “She’s lit something inside me that I’ve never felt before, and I didn’t want to lose her, so we decided to skip all the dating shit and just go for it.” I immediately take a drink to swallow down the bullshit.

“And what was kissing my sister before you brought your wife home to meet everyone?” Sophie shouts, walking toward me from the kitchen with a butcher knife in her hand.

I quickly stand and walk around the couch to create a barrier between us.

“Jesus, Soph.” Mason grabs her wrist and pulls her back. “Put the weapon down.”

“You’re lying through your goddamn teeth, Liam!” I’m not sure if she was cooking or if she purposely grabbed it to threaten me. Either way, I wouldn’t blame Sophie for wanting to stab the shit outta me.

“Soph…relax.” Mason manages to pry it from her grip and places it on the coffee table, then looks at me. “Wait, when did you kiss Maddie?”

For fuck’s sake.

“Two days before that skank showed up!” Sophie answers before I can, shooting murderous daggers at me.

Wait. Her words make me halt. “You saw that?” I ask, not realizing we weren’t alone.

“You’re not even gonna deny it, huh?” Sophie crosses her arms, and I can tell she’s seconds away from killing me.

I hold up my hands, trying to defuse the situation. “Okay, just give me some time to explain.”

“Explain what?” Sophie snaps. “I saw you two making out in the kitchen, and according to Mads, it wasn’t the first time either.”

“Dude, not cool…” Mason says, and I release a frustrated breath.

“I was aware the moment I brought Victoria here, Maddie would be pissed. I didn’t know how to tell her or any of you, so I just ripped off the Band-Aid at Lennon’s get-together. That kiss was closure, a final goodbye to any hope she had of a relationship with me. It was selfish, but I’m selfless enough to realize Maddie deserves better than me. So I’ve continuously pushed her away so she could find a good man to be with, but the one she’s with right now—he’s not any of those things. He’ll hurt her more than I ever did.”

“Don’t change the damn subject.” Sophie scowls. “You’re jealous, but you caused this. You strung her along and thenmarried someone else.” She takes another step toward me, but Mason grabs her waist and holds her to his chest.

“Baby…” he murmurs, trying to calm her down.

“Kick his ass, Mason,” she demands between gritted teeth. “He’s a two-timing manwhore who’s played with Maddie’s emotions and needs to be punched in the junk for it.”

If it wasn’t my balls she was threatening, I’d laugh at how angry she is, but I hold back so I don’t piss her off further.

“I’m not gonna punch him, Soph. This fight is between him and Maddie, not you or me,” he tells her, but her rage stays intact.

“Fine, I’ll call Hunter and have him do it since you won’t. He’s my brother and will listen to me,” she states matter-of-factly and reaches for her phone.

I scoff with a chuckle, making Sophie more agitated. “You think I won’t?” She pulls it from her pocket, but Mason quickly grabs it.

“Hunter isn’t gonna come over to kick his ass for you,” Mason says.

“What the hell is this, a ‘bros before hoes’ situation?” Sophie glares at Mason, and I hate that he’s getting her wrath because of me.

“It’s not any sort of situation,” I intervene. “I shouldn’t have kissed her, but it’s over now. I’m with Victoria, and Maddie’s off to date whoever she wants.” I shrug, giving up the fight, though I’m still frustrated she went out with Blake.

Sophie’s breaths even, her eyes slightly soften, and I don’t think she’ll put a hit out on me anymore. Or at least I hope. “This makes no sense, Liam. The traveling, the fancy car, the high-maintenance wife. I’m gonna figure this out.”