Page 13 of Between Regrets and Promises

“Soph…” Mason comes closer, then whispers in my ear, “You don’t have to do this.”

“Do what?” I pierce him with a sharp glare as he steps back. “You worried about me?”

He brushes a hand through his dark hair that’s short on the sides and longer on top. Hair that I’ve pulled. “I just don’t want you thinking you have to drink because of me or anything.”

“Why would you think that, Mason?” I narrow my eyes at his insinuation. “I drank before I knew you. We’refriends. I know that. So why don’t you take your ego and sit back down?”

Liam overhears us and brings a fist up to his lips and smiles around it to stifle a laugh. “Daaaaamn. I like this chick!” He gives me a high five, then wraps his arm around my shoulders. “Mason can sometimes be a mood killer. Don’t mind him. Come drink with me. I’mwaymore fun.”

“Dude, what the fuck?” Mason glares at him, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Relax, man.” Liam slaps his shoulder. “Let me get you a drink so your uptight ass can loosen up.”

“I’m fine,” Mason insists.

“You pussies done gossiping and ready to party?” Hunter comes barreling in. He holds up his beer can as he yells, spilling it on himself in the process.

Liam throws his head back and woots loudly, pounding a fist on his chest.

“Should’ve warned ya, they get a bit out of control,” Lennon warns, scanning the room for Brandon. “I’m gonna go find my boyfriend. You alright in here?”

“She’s fine, Lenny.” Liam smirks. “I’ll takegoodcare of her.”

Lennon furrows her brows at the unwanted nickname. “Don’t call me that.” Then she pushes Hunter out of her way and walks out of the kitchen.

Mason grabs a new beer from the fridge, cracks it open, and stands awkwardly as he drinks it. I’d feel bad for him, but seriously, what did he expect? Tell me we can bejustfriendsand then act like he gives a shit what I do?

I don’t think so.

“I bet I can kick your ass at pool,” Liam blurts. “Wanna play?”

“You have a pool table?” I ask, pouring myself another shot. If I’m gonna get through this night, I can’t be sober.

“Hell yeah. It’s in the back room. Let’s go, new friend.” He flashes a wink, smirks at Mason, and then I put the pieces together.

He knows about us.

He knows we hooked up, and he’s either trying to rattle his friend, or he’s giving him shit for not pursuing anything with me further. Either way, I don’t mind being his pawn in this game. I’m well aware of the bro-code and know that Liam isn’t hitting on me, which only fuels me to play along.

“I’m in!” I tell him as we link arms, and he leads me to their game room.

“You know, this really isn’t helping the whole frat boy image,” I tease as we each grab a cue stick.

“You can take the college out of the frat boy, but you can’t take the frat boy out of college. Pi Kappa Alpha! Pikas, baby!” And then the roars of his repeated words echo from the living room.

“I take it your frat brothers are here too?”

“Hell yeah. We only graduated a few months ago, and a lot of them stuck around. Hunter, Brandon, and Mason too.”

Of course.

“Kilan is here, too. He lives across the street, and we’ve been partying with him since we moved into the neighborhood a couple of years ago. He’s an investor or some shit, so he’s always traveling, but when he’s home, he likes to relive his youth through us since he spent his college days stuck in a book. He’s in his thirties now, so we like to give him shit about trying to keep up with us.” Liam cackles.

“Guess I never got into that stuff very much.” I shrug, watching as he racks the balls. “I went to a few parties but never joined a sorority.”

“We all played football, so it was kind of expected. But I don’t regret it. Made a shit ton of friends for life and got into a ton of trouble, too. But you only experience college once, so…”

“So you went balls to the wall?” I chuckle as Hunter and Mason enter the room.

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