Page 56 of Between Regrets and Promises

I’ve been on edge all day thinking about seeing Sophie tonight. After Liam told me how pissed Sophie is at me, it’s bothered the fuck out of me, but I deserve it. I wish I could be the man for her, the one who makes her happy and gives her what she needs and wants. And there’s no fuckin’ way thatWeston gives her that. It’s more than obvious he’s a placeholder, which makes me sick to my stomach.

Instead of going straight home from work, I stay late, trying to keep my mind busy as I go through files and organize them into the electronic system. What I’m doing is nothing more than bitch work, but it’s a foot in the door until the fall. Eventually, all the internships and experience I’ve gained over the years will come in handy. Though my dad will take credit for it all, as he somehow manages with everything I accomplish, regardless if he agrees with my career choices or not. People in the department will think I got the job because of him as well. I have so damn much to prove either way.

I check the time and realize I need to get going. She’s been at the house for nearly thirty minutes, and I don’t want Liam to have to stall her. My nerves get the best of me as I head home. When I see her car in the driveway, I park behind her, knowing if she gets pissed and tries to leave, she won’t be able to. It’s a dick move, but I’m gonna make sure she listens to me.

When I walk into the house, Liam’s laughing as Sophie tells him something. She glares at me, giving me her perfectedgo to helllook. I smile, but she rolls her eyes and turns away. If that’s any indication of how annoyed she is I’m here, I can only imagine the daggers she’s throwing at Liam right now.

Instead of starting the conversation now, I go take a shower, giving them time to chat since she’s not going anywhere.

Once I’m done, I go to the kitchen and make myself a plate of food. Sophie and Liam are on the back porch, but it doesn’t look like they’re talking.

Just as I finish eating, Liam comes in and drops a beer bottle in the trash. “You should go out there now.”

“How is she?” I ask.

He shakes his head.

I place my plate in the sink, then walk outside. When I sit, Sophie looks at me. It’s a stare down until I break the silence.

“How’ve you been?”

She bites the inside of her cheek and looks stressed.

“How do you think I’ve been?”

“Good, I hope.”

“What do you want, Mason?”

Sucking in a deep breath, I study her. Though I’m sure she’d deny it, the chemistry between us is still there. Regardless that she’s with Weston now, the underlying electrical current that’s always streamed between us still pulls us together.

“Soph, your boyfriend?—”

“Don’t you dare start that again,” she warns.

“He’s not who you think he is,” I blurt, ignoring her.

A sarcastic laugh escapes her. “How do you know anything about our relationship? Oh wait, you don’t.”

I’m trying to stay calm for her sake. “He’s not a correctional officer, Soph. He doesn’t work at the prison and never has. I checked.”

Sophie shakes her head, her lips in a firm line. Standing in front of me, she points a finger in my face. “How dare you go behind my back and snoop on him? How fucking dare you, Mason. Your audacity is mind-boggling.”

Standing, I grab her elbow, trying to calm her down, but she pushes me away.

I release her, but I don’t let her get far. “I’m trying to help you.”

She snaps her gaze to mine with fire boiling in her eyes. “Listen to me and listen to me very carefully, Mason. For years of my life, I waited around for you. Seriously waited for you. It wasyourchoice for us not to have a relationship, for us not to progress any further, though I made it clear what I wanted. I tried being your friend, but your behavior toward me didn’tmerit my friendship. Now that I’ve found someone, you feel threatened, but this jealousy bullshit has to stop. You need to butt out of my relationship and mind your own damn business.”

Her words drive through me like a rusted knife, ripping and tearing flesh, leaving a deep wound exposed. “Sophie.” My chest deflates. “I’m not the only one who’s worried?—”

“No, Mason. I’m done,” she cuts me off, then slides the patio door open and walks inside the house. I stand for a moment, looking at the pink and purple sky, wishing things were different. I wish I hadn’t pushed her away for so long so she’d trust me now, but I did and I don’t know if this is fixable.

The patio door slides open. “Sophie needs you to move your truck, ya bastard,” Liam tells me with a smirk.

“What happened to plan B?” I ask him.

“I tried, man. She stormed in cussing your name, and I started to explain that we had good reason for looking into him, that we found out some bad shit that made us worried, but she wasn’t having it. Said I had no room to talk and mocked my wealth of knowledge on relationships, then marched out.”

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