Page 184 of Between Regrets and Promises

“I saw the potatoes. Let me cook for you.” Mason heads back to the kitchen.

After I follow, I watch as he pulls two wine glasses from the cabinet, then fills them. I take it willingly, but I nearly break my jaw as I clench my teeth, thinking about Mason and Serena together.

As I take a seat at the table, I accidentally release a frustrated groan, and Mason looks at me with a small smile before he throws our steaks in a skillet and our potatoes in the oven. Luckily, he doesn’t push the matter either. I’m mesmerized as he works around the kitchen, preparing the food. It seems like he magically cooked everything because soon he’s placing our steaks on a plate and putting butter and cheese in our baked potatoes. We’ve exchanged no words, just stolen glances.

Silence fills the room, and I don’t know what to say, but the wine has helped calm me down for now. My steak is cookedexactly the way I like it, and it nearly melts in my mouth. When I look up at Mason, he’s studying me with a cheeky grin.

I swallow down my food. “What?”

He shrugs and continues to cut into his steak. “Nothing.”

“Thank you for cooking. This is really good,” I say, then sipping my wine.

“No problem.” He winks, and I can’t help but wonder why he’s so giddy.

After our plates are cleared, he picks them up and rinses them in the sink. I finish my wine, making sure to get each drop and so does Mason. We walk into the living room, and he still has that goofy smile plastered on his face.

I grow more agitated, placing my hands on my hips and glaring when he faces me. “Do I have pepper in my teeth or something?”

Mason takes four steps forward, removing all the space between us. My breath hitches as our eyes meet, and I immediately feel as if I’m falling. His hands land on my hips, and he pulls me to his chest. “You called me yourboyfriend.”

“That’swhat you’re focused on?” I half-chuckle. “I was two seconds away from taking her out.”

“I wasn’t worried.” Mason arches a brow as if he’s waiting for me to confirm those words came from my mouth.

“Well, are you expecting me to deny it or something?” I ask with an eyebrow popped.

He smirks. “Well, we’ve been in limbo so?—”

Before he can finish his thought, I wrap my arms around his neck and pull his mouth to mine, tasting the wine on his lips, wanting to devour him whole. I’m breathless as his hands trail up my back, and I can’t get close enough to him as our tongues dance together. When I push away, I’m lightheaded and nearly stumble as if he stole my breath. I’m literally weak in the knees, and he holds me close to his strong body.

“Soph,” he whispers, then swallows hard. Before he can say anything else, I place my fingers over his mouth. I don’t want the moment ruined. I don’t want broken promises or expectations. I just want him.

It’s so fucking hard to pull away from him, but somehow I do and immediately feel the loss.

Mason places his palm on my cheek, and I lean into it, my eyes fluttering closed.

“I’m gonna walk away and go to bed before I do something I’ll regret.” He inhales a sharp breath as if holding back is physically hard. “Thanks for eating dinner with me.” Then he kisses my cheek and drops his hands. “Good night, my sweet Sophie.”

“Good night, Mason,” I whisper, my chest pounding so hard I’m sure he felt it.

He climbs the stairs, then disappears. I worry I’ve let Mason walk away forever by not stopping him.

But the truth is my heart longs for him so damn much, and he deserves to know.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

MASON

I hadn’t expectedtonight to turn out the way it did.

I especially didn’t expect Sophie to go off on Serena, and I was almost too stunned to do anything about it. Knowing how Sophie felt about her, I should’ve realized that we were too close, but I honestly didn’t think about it because we’re always this way. Before Sophie, Serena was the only woman in my life, and though I think of Serena as a sister, I should’ve been more considerate of Sophie’s feelings and moved away from her the moment the lines were crossed.

As I think about it in bed, I’m not sure how I’m going to fix this feud between the woman I’m in love with and the woman who’s been there for me through all my shit. I’d rather they get along, but if Liam is right and Serena is hoping for a romantic relationship with me, then there’s definitely no way our friendship can continue. I’d be upset about it, though, because she’s been a great friend.

Tossing and turning, unable to get comfortable and thinking about Sophie’s soft lips against mine, I groan. She kissed me.Shemade the first move, something I’ve been patiently waiting for, but I didn’t want to push for anything more. It’s a stepforward and hearing her call me her boyfriend is enough for me. It means she’s as protective of me as I am of her.

Just when I’m able to calm my pounding heart, feet pad in the hallway, and then a second later, my door swings open.

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