Page 37 of Between Regrets and Promises

Sophie

Nah. I’m exhausted from playing so many shows and want to go to sleep early. I’m ready to crash, and I have more performances this weekend.

Liam

Fine! Guess I’ll hang out all by myself.

I grab my violin and walk to my car. As I cross the parking lot, I find it hilarious he’s trying to guilt trip me, but I really am exhausted. All I want to do is eat dinner, shower, and lock myself in my room away from Maria and Carter.

Liam’s great company, but I’m not sure I would be. If we watched a movie, I’d fall asleep. If we had dinner, I wouldn’t be any fun. Right now, I want to decompress and not socialize. After I get inside the car and crank it, I text Liam back.

Sophie

I’m sure there’s someone you can hang out with in your long list of contacts. Start at the letter A and work your way down

Liam

You’re right. Maybe we can get together next weekend?

Sophie

I might be able to squeeze you into my schedule!

I tuck my phone away, then drive home. I think Liam’s noticed how I’ve tried to create distance by not going over to their house as much. Each time I’ve been there, Mason has treated me like shit anyway. Plus, I’m trying the whole “out ofsight, out of mind” trick, hoping it will allow me to forget Mason and our past once and for all. Though it feels as if it’s all burned into my memory. Liam hasn’t called me out on it yet, but he knows my real feelings. How can he not after all this time?

I’m hungry and tired, so I stop at a restaurant and grab a chicken salad to go. It doesn’t take long before my food is ready, and I’m on my way to the apartment. When I arrive home, Carter’s car is parked in Maria’s spot and I’m half-tempted to run my key down the driver’s side. I suck in a deep breath and try to get rid of the scowl before I walk inside, but it’s no use.

His socks and shoes lie in the middle of the floor as he sits on the couch with his feet propped up on the coffee table. The TV is so damn loud. If he’s not hard of hearing, he will be. Carter gives me one of those douchey head nods, but I ignore him. It’s gotten to where I can’t pretend to make small talk anymore, though he doesn’t know how to take a hint. I go to my room so I can eat in peace and quiet. Well,tryto anyway.

It’s not even seven yet, but I’m ready to fall asleep. After I take a shower and am comfortable in my bed, I scroll through my email on my phone, but before I set it down, I notice a few notifications on the dating app. Curious, I open it to see what perv has messaged me this time and consider taking a screenshot to send to Maddie so she can at least be entertained by my pathetic love life. As expected, the dirty-talking douchebags have filled my inbox, but then I see another message that’s shockingly normal. His name is Weston, he’s 29, and by his profile picture alone, he looks decent and charming.

Weston

Hi, Sophie! It’s nice to virtually “meet” you. I see you’re in Sacramento as well, so we’re close. I’m probably being forward, but I can tell there’s something special about you just from your profile picture. Chat soon?

I go to his profile and scroll through his photos. The man has his shit together, that much is certain. Seeing he’s still online, I go back to my inbox and reply.

Sophie

Hi! Thanks for the note It’s nice to virtually “meet” you too. Honestly, it’s refreshing not to get a message from a creeper.

Weston

I can only imagine what kind of messages you’ve gotten. So tell me about you, Sophie. You play violin professionally? That’s incredible.

Sophie

I’ve been playing since I was a teenager, and I love it. Music is everything to me. What do you do for a living?

Weston

I’m a correctional officer at the prison. Love my job and don’t mind most of my co-workers. Ha-ha. Plus, I wouldn’t be a homeowner without it.

I like how he conveniently threw that in there, and I find myself smiling as I chat with him.

Sophie

Wow, how awesome!

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