Page 168 of Between Regrets and Promises

“Thanks, I think?”

After he closes our tab, Liam orders a pizza just the way I like it. My head is spinning, and I’m on cloud nine as we drive home. Liam wouldn’t lie about Mason. He has no reason to, and if there’s anyone who knows him best, it’s Liam. I stare out the window, lost in my head when I laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Liam asks as we pull into the driveway.

“I was thinking about all those stupid stories you made up about those people at the bar,” I tell him, noticing Mason is home.

Before he climbs out and gets the pizza, I grab his arm. “Thank you.”

He laughs. “For what?”

“For being a good friend. Albeit a stubborn one, but a good one.”

Liam shrugs as if it’s no big deal. “Being stubborn is the easy part.”

I snort, knowing Maddie would wholeheartedly agree.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

MASON

It’s nearly dark outside,and I’ve been staring at the computer screen for nearly twenty minutes. Instead of wasting more time, I leave. Sophie agreed to watch a movie with me, and I’m not going to pass up the opportunity to spend time with her. I’ve been trying to shift us back to where we were in our friendship before the Serena argument and without all the awkwardness. It’s still a struggle, being up and down, but I won’t complain. After what she went through, I’m still so proud she’s come this far and continues her therapy to help her.

I try to give her space and let her do things in her own time, but I also refuse to let her go through it alone. Sophie is sometimes too proud to ask for help, to ask for anything. She’s always so concerned with everyone else, she often forgets about herself, but that hasn’t changed since the first day I met her. Nothing can change her kind soul, not Weston and not his brother either.

On the way home, I pick up a pizza, just the way Sophie likes it. There’s little to no traffic tonight, and it takes me no time to arrive, but then I notice that Liam isn’t home. While I lovehis company, I’m happy to spend some alone time with Sophie since he rudely interrupted our breakfast this morning.

When I walk in, all the lights are off. I call for Sophie but don’t get a response.

Setting the pizza down on the coffee table, I go to her room and knock on the door. When I don’t get an answer, I crack it open, but she’s not inside. Her violin case is on her bed, and her music stand has sheets on it. Knowing she played today makes me smile because of how much joy it brings her when she’s not pressuring herself.

Though I talked to her earlier and know she didn’t have the best day, she still came home and practiced. That’s the type of determination that can’t be taught. Some people have it, and some people don’t. Sophie’s a fighter.

“Soph?” I call out again into the house but don’t get a response. I check the upstairs and downstairs bathrooms, but they’re both empty too.

I grow more worried but make another walk around the house to double check. I release a frustrated groan and pull out my phone. Before I can text her, the door swings open.

Sophie and Liam barge in loud as fuck, laughing about God knows what, and Liam’s carrying a pizza in his hand.

“Where the hell have you been?” I ask Sophie, and my tone comes out harsher than I intend. Sucking in a deep breath, I calm my panic because my mind went to a dark place when I couldn’t find her.

Liam shakes his head and sets the pizza on the table next to the one I picked up.

“Pizza?” Sophie asks, giggling. “Great minds.”

I narrow my eyes as she plops down on the couch.

“Are you drunk?”

“Oh, Mason,” she singsongs.

That’s a yes.

Opening the box, she grabs a slice, then takes a large bite . “Oh my God, this pizza is giving me so much life.”

I glance at Liam. “What the fuck, dude?”

He shrugs and stuffs his face with a piece, then sits in his recliner. “You should’ve told us you were grabbing dinner. I wouldn’t have stopped.”

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