Page 171 of Between Regrets and Promises

“No,” we say in unison, and she snickers at our deer in the headlights expressions. I pull myself away and back to my chair since Maddie’s ruined our moment.

“Are you sure?” She narrows her eyes.

“Shut up!” Sophie snaps, looking embarrassed. “Why are you here, anyway?”

Maddie shrugs, ignoring the question, and pours herself a cup of orange juice. Sitting next to her sister, she steals some of Sophie’s food off her plate. “So, how was last night? I got your stupid drunk texts this morning, and I’m pissed you didn’t come pick me up when you knew you’d be going out with Liam. Seriously, you’re a cock block.”

I snort.

“Funny, he calls you the same thing,” Sophie retorts, which causes Maddie to scoff dramatically.

“Ironic, considering he’s the one who runs away every time I’m around,” she says around a mouthful.

When she flips her hair, I look at her butterfly tattoo on her wrist. It’s sweet and dainty, a contradiction to her strong and fierce personality. Knowing their parents’ strict religious values, I’m surprised she has one, but then again, she’s known to rebel against rules. It’s a wonder why Liam hasn’t taken up her million offers, but I have a feeling it has more to do with his own fears about relationships than the fact she’s in our inner circle.

“Maybe after a bottle or two of wine, he would’ve been more than ready to take my virginity, if I don’t sell it to a guy for ahundred thousand. Do you have any idea what I could buy with that money? I mean, it’s only one time, and he’d probably finish in less than five minutes. I?—”

“Maddie,” Sophie groans, drawing out her name. “Shut your French toast trap. My head is killing me, and you’re talkingwaytoo much.”

“What’re you doing here?” I interrupt and ask her.

“Well, after I got your messages, I was worried, so I scheduled an Uber.” She shifts her eyes between us again. “You both look guilty.”

Sophie focuses on her food, and Maddie turns toward me. “You might not have had sex, but you almost did.” She wrinkles her nose and leans into me. “I can sense it.”

“Oh my God. You’re a weirdo,” Sophie quips.

“What’re you, a psychic or something?” I retort, finishing the last of my food, then placing my plate in the sink.

Maddie giggles because she knows she’s right. “No, but the sexual tension is?—”

Liam walks in the kitchen and stops when he sees her. “What’re you doing here?”

“So what were you saying about sexual tension?” Sophie taunts, glancing at Liam who’s walking around in his boxer briefs,again.

Maddie’s eyes widen as she looks him up and down, focusing heavily on his ass, and you’d think he’s naked by how she’s gawking. “I think I just died and went to virgin heaven,” she whispers to Sophie, but we all hear it.

“What’s she doing here?” Liam asks, grabbing himself a cup of coffee. He’s loud enough for Maddie to overhear.

Sophie and I shrug.

“Why do I feel very unwelcome here?” Maddie asks after she’s asked for the third time why she’s here so damn early.

I walk out of the kitchen, and Sophie follows me, leaving Maddie in the kitchen with Liam. She talks a million miles per hour again about how he should’ve picked her up regardless of the fact she’s underage because she’s great company. Liam groans, and I only feel a little bad for leaving him with her. When Sophie lies on the sofa, I quickly run upstairs and grab some Tylenol from the medicine cabinet and then grab a bottle of water from the fridge.

Maddie’s in tight booty shorts and a crop top, and although Liam’s trying to ignore her, he’s failing miserably. I walk out of the kitchen and hand Sophie the meds and water.

“You’re always saving me,” she murmurs before swallowing them down.

“And I always will.” I wink.

At that moment, every sound disappears, and it’s just her and me like old times. The only thing that brings me back to reality is Liam.

“I’m not babysitting today!” he shouts from the kitchen. Maddie’s still talking, not taking the blatant hint from Liam, and all we can do is laugh. At least she’s determined.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

SOPHIE

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