Page 209 of Between Regrets and Promises

“Well, I’m glad because I have nowhere else to go, and I’ve been sleeping in your room. Also, I’m broke as fuck so…” She shrugs as if it’s nothing new. “Now.” She grabs my hand. “Let me see this rock.”

“Isn’t it stunning?” I beam proudly at my fiancé.

“Yeah, it’s perfect.” Maddie gives Mason a knowing grin. “Wonder how he knew what you liked?”

“No clue,” Mason intervenes. “Guess I’m just that good.”

“Oh, don’t even play!” Maddie pushes a finger into his chest. “You’re welcome.”

“Pfft. I would’ve figured it out, ya know?”

“Mmhmm, sure.” Maddie snickers. “Aren’t you so excited to have me as a sister now?”

“Yeah, I didn’t quite think this through…” Mason makes a face and scratches the back of his head. “Might need to reconsider that proposal, Soph…” he taunts with a smirk. “Two Corrigan sisters.”

“Just tell them both that you’re their favorite and they’ll leave you alone.”

“I’m gonna unpack and do laundry since I have to be back at work tomorrow,” Mason tells me, then presses a kiss to my forehead. “Guess you’re sleeping with me tonight.” He waggles his brows as he walks backward toward the stairs.

“Oh hell, I’m gonna need earplugs, aren’t I?” Maddie groans, crossing her arms.

“I have an extra pair,” Liam chimes in. “Bought them in case.”

“Oh my God, you guys act like we’re shooting an adult film or something.” I shake my head at them. “And you should talk, Liam!” I take a throw pillow off the couch and chuck it athim. “If I’m greeted by your morning wood one more time, I’m buying you a robe!”

“I’m not sure if coming here was a good thing or not…” Maddie grimaces. “You guys fight like siblings.”

“This is how they show love,” Mason teases before making his way upstairs.

“So did you tell Lennon about the proposal?” Maddie asks as she follows me into my room. I need to unpack and do laundry too, which means I have to beat Mason to the washer. I chuckle to myself, knowing he’d let me have it first anyway if I asked.

“Not yet.”

“How do you think Mom and Dad will react?” Maddie sits on the bed, making herself at home. “You two are making it hard for me. By the time I have a baby or get married, they’re gonna be expecting the worst.”

Laughing, I shrug. “Perks of being the little sister.”

“They’re not perks! But maybe that means they won’t give me any shit for anything I do. You two will have worn them down by then.”

“See? There ya go. You’re welcome.” Once my suitcase is emptied, I take my hamper to the laundry room and put in a load. “I think after Lennon put them in their place, they’ve toned down a bit. Mason and I living together won’t be such a shock,” I tell her once I’m back in my room. “It’s the being engaged before they met Mason that might hurt them. But it’s not like it’s on purpose. We don’t live in Utah, so it makes it harder to introduce them to the guys we’re dating.”

“Well, and if you factor in the first time you guys hooked up, you’ve been dating for over three years.”

“Ha-ha, funny. I’m not gonna tell them that, and neither are you.” I point my finger at her. “They know our story, and once they do get to meet him, I have no doubt they’ll love him.”

“They totally will,” she reassures me. “I’m so excited for you guys. You two deserve it so much.”

Maddie stands and gives me a hug. “Thank you. I’m still in shock, I think. But it was awesome to spend the weekend together with just the two of us, so…thanks for not calling.” I burst out laughing when she scowls at me. “Oh, I bet you loved being here alone with Liam anyway.”

“It hasn’t been so bad, I guess. I mean, it’s only been two days, and he sleeps till noon.”

I nod. “Yeah, he does that when he’s between bounties because he doesn’t sleep that well on the road. He stays up for long hours at a time, plus hotel beds suck.”

“It was nice to hang out. I’m gonna wear him down eventually.”

Smiling at her determination, I wrap my arm around her shoulder and squeeze. “I have no doubt that you will.”

EPILOGUE

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