Page 149 of Between Regrets and Promises

“Well, I gotta head into work. Text me if you want, okay?” I tell her, leaning in and kissing her forehead. I’ve told her that for the past two days, and she hasn’t yet, but I won’t give up hope that she will eventually.

“Okay. Have a good day,” she tells me.

She’s all that’s on my mind while I work my bitch shift. Sophie always is, but today especially since she’s seeing her therapist. I want things to go well for her so she can sort through her emotions and possibly open up about it. Part of me understands the guilt she’s feeling and where she’s coming from, but I hate that she won’t let me in so I can help her through it.

I end up leaving work at a decent time, but when I find Serena’s car in the driveway, I wish I’d stayed later. She was over a lot while Sophie was gone, and I know she’s checking up on me, but she doesn’t need to.

“To what do I owe the pleasure of your company again?” I taunt the moment I walk into the living room. She has her feet propped up on the coffee table as she pages through a magazine. “Make yourself at home.” I snort.

Serena drops the magazine with a glare. “Don’t forget who bought this coffee table.”

“Don’t forget who hauled its heavy ass in here,” I retort.

“If memory serves me right, Liam did most of the lifting.” She smirks.

I toss my wallet, keys, and phone on the table before taking a seat next to her. “Memory serves you wrong.”

Serena laughs, patting my knee. “How ya holding up?”

I narrow my eyes at her, searching her face. “You don’t have to check on me,” I tell her. “Don’t you have law stuff to do? Cases to solve? Put the bad guys away?”

“Things are a little slow right now,” she admits, shrugging. “And because law school sucked me dry and my boss worked me to the bone, I have no friends, no social life, and no boyfriend.”

“So what you’re saying is, I was your first choice to hang out with?”

“Myonlychoice. I’m pathetic, I know.” Groaning, she throws her head back against the couch and releases a slow breath.

“Nah. You just put your career in front of sorority parties and one-night stands.” I push myself up and walk toward the kitchen. “Speaking of which, you want a beer?”

“Sure. Make it a double.”

“Let’s start with one.”

I return with our drinks, then kick my feet up. “So tell me the real reason you’re here.”

“I was worried about you. After the bomb about Dalton, I wasn’t sure how you’d take it. Have you spoken to your father since then?” she asks.

“Nope. Don’t plan to either.” I take a long swig of my beer.

“This is gonna sound weird coming from me, but he really does love you. He might not show it properly, but he’s proud of you.”

My face whips around as if she’d slapped me across the cheek. “Did he pay you to say that?”

“Oh my God, shut up!” She playfully punches my shoulder. “It’s true. He’s proud of you.”

I glare, not wanting to have this argument. “Is that the only reason you came over? If so, there’s the door,” I tell her, jerking my head.

“Don’t you dare be rude to me, Mason Holt,” she says, but she’s smiling. We’ve always had a sibling type of friendship, and we grew even closer over the years. She misses her sister, though she rarely talks about her, but I don’t either. The memories are too painful.

“Fine, if you don’t want to talk about him, then tell me how Sophie’s doing.”

I groan, not sure if I want to discuss that with her either.

“Oh, come on. You can tell me.” She nudges me with her elbow. “She okay?”

“I’m worried about her. Some of her behavior is similar to the way I acted after Emma’s death, and it scares me,” I tell her truthfully. “The pulling away, not doing things that once made her happy, blaming herself. She’s put all this burden on her shoulders, and she’s gonna sink if she doesn’t learn how to let some of it go.”

“She’s pushing you away?” she asks as if she already knows the answer.

---