Page 167 of Between Regrets and Promises

“Don’t. She’s the biggest cock block out there.”

And we all know that’s the truth. Maddie’s become braver over the past few months, marking her territory and scaring off any girl who comes within a five-mile radius of Liam when she’s around. It’s quite funny to watch.

Instead of going to one of our regular hangouts, Liam drives us to a wine bar. We walk inside and sit, and I’m excited to try all the different wines they have. The list is a mile long.

“I hope you’re not expecting me to put out after this.” I glance at him after seeing how expensive everything is.

“Nah, but maybe you could do my dirty laundry,” he taunts, but I don’t think he’s kidding.

I order a white zinfandel, and Liam gets a Pinot Noir. Jazz music plays in the background, and light from the candles along the bar flicker against the wall. The mood is dark and quiet, notloud like most of the places we typically go to, and I’m grateful he brought me here. It’s relaxing.

“You know, sometimes when I visit places like this, I like to make up stories about other people in the room. Pretend they’re millionaires who like to slum with the common folk or drug lords. Like that guy over there…” Liam tilts his head.

I peek around and look. “The guy with the mustache?”

“Yeah, he has four wives, and they all live together. Right now, he’s waiting for his girlfriend to arrive so he can propose to her and make her his fifth wife.” Liam narrows his eyes then chuckles.

“Oh my God. You’re ridiculous,” I say, but it is funny. “So what about that woman over there?”

“She killed her husband so she could cash in ten million dollars’ worth of insurance money. Her dream has always been to buy a private island, and once she gets the money, all her dreams are gonna come true,” he says so confidently I almost believe the silly story.

“And the bartender?” I ask.

“Trust fund baby but runs an underground drug ring and uses his inheritance to fund it all. Next.”

“You’re way too good at this. Who would’ve thought you had such a wild imagination.” I’m laughing, smiling, having a good time, and it feels so nice.

“I know. It’s how I occupy myself in airports, considering I’ve been traveling so much lately. There are so many people in there it’s easy to think about how crazy their lives could be. Who knows, it could be true although there’s like a one in a million chance.”

He finishes his wine and orders another, and I get one too, but this time, I switch to a merlot. For the first time all week—hell, all month—I have a sense of calmness, and I’m grateful forLiam’s friendship, more than he knows. It’s almost as if I feel like myself right now at this moment, and I don’t want it to end.

“Talk to Mason today?” he asks, abruptly moving the conversation to me.

Our new glasses are placed in front of us. Sipping my wine, I give him a nod. “Yeah, he told me he’d be home somewhat late, but that’s about it.” Before he can continue with Mason as the subject, I quickly change the subject. “So you’re coming to Maddie’s recital, right?”

“You already know I’m gonna be there. You’re trying to deflect. But I’m not gonna allow it.” He smirks when I groan.

“Then I’m gonna need another glass of wine,” I bemuse, and Liam makes it happen.

“I know you two are going through a rough patch and things have been rocky, but he loves you, Soph. A lot. The other night, I heard you arguing about Serena…”

“And? I’m not crazy, right?” My heart races as I think about it.

“You’re crazy, but not about that,” he teases. “I just want you to know that you have nothing to worry about. If you told Mason to jump, he’d ask you how high. If you wanted him to wait for you for a decade, he’d wait a decade plus a year. Hell, he’s been waiting for a woman like you for a long ass time, and he’s not gonna give that up. Trust me. I’m his best friend. I know him better than he knows himself. When Mason Holt falls in love, he falls hard, and he’s not ever gonna let that go. In case you haven’t noticed, in the past three years of knowing him, he’s never had another girl around. Never.”

Heat rushes to my cheeks, and a small smile plays on my lips. Liam’s right, which makes me feel bad for fighting with him and assuming he wasn’t going to be patient with me. The alcohol seems to hit me all at once. I haven’t eaten anythingsince breakfast, which was probably a bad idea, but I finish my third glass of wine anyway. “I think I’ve had too much to drink.”

I hiccup. “I’m a lightweight, aren’t I?”

“Oh man, drunk Sophie has come out to play, hasn’t she? Maybe we shouldn’t have ordered the eight ounce glasses?”

Laughter overtakes me. “Can we get a pizza on the way home?”

“I said I’d pay for your drinks. I never said anything about dinner.”

I poke my bottom lip out. “Please? Sophie needs food.”

“You’re lucky you’re one of the few chicks I can stand.” He rolls his eyes with a smirk.

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