Page 57 of Between Regrets and Promises

I shake my head. “I might just make her wait out there all night.”

“You’ve always been stubborn. She might murder you, though.”

The door closes, and I take another minute to myself before walking through the house to meet her in the front.

She’s standing by her car, but instead of doing what she demands, I stalk toward her. Sophie steps back, pressing her body against her car, and sucks in a sharp breath. Although she doesn’t want to listen to me, I’m determined to make her.

“Real cute parking behind me. It’s as if you both had this planned the entire time,” she says with venom in her voice.

Staring into her brown eyes, I shrug, wishing I could read her thoughts. “I’m sorry for hurting you. I never wanted tofucking hurt you, which is why I only wanted to stay friends. Maybe you don’t understand that, but I wouldn’t expect you to. But as your friend, I’m so damn worried about you. About the way you’re acting. The seclusion. How you’ve put a wall up between all of us, even your sisters. I don’t know what’s going on with you, Sophie, but this didn’t happen until you started dating him. So I have my reasons for checking him out.”

She tries to open her mouth and speak, but I place a finger over her soft lips to silence her.

“The foundation of your relationship was built on a lie, unless you knew that already. Did you?”

She doesn’t answer me, but there’s a flicker of sadness in her eyes.

“You didn’t. And I know I can’t make you happy. I can’t give you what you want, but I’ll be damned if someone like him has you in ways I can only dream of and then disrespects you while forcing you away from everyone who loves you. Over my goddamn dead body. So if you hate me for that, then so be it. Hate me. But trust me when I say I’ve only had your best interests in mind, and I only want you to be safe. Weston is dangerous.”

Tears form in her eyes, and I want nothing more than to lean over and kiss them all away, but there’s a wall between us, one I can’t climb.

“Let me leave,” she says in a cracked voice.

I nod, then walk to my truck, and back out of the driveway. As Sophie’s car rounds the corner, all I can do is hope I got through to her before it’s too late.

CHAPTER TWELVE

SOPHIE

PRESENT DAY

Things have beenrocky with Weston, and I wish our relationship could go back to how it was in the beginning. Carefree and happy.

Since he lost his job a couple of days ago, he’s been drinking nonstop. His temper has flared on more than one occasion, and he makes me feel like I’m a burden. Things have escalated to the point where my feelings for him have faded, and I wonder if I was in love with him at all or just the idea of it. He changed after I let him in and knew how to use my compassion against me.

There are times when I try to be on my best behavior because I don’t want to upset him, knowing it might set him off. Moving in with him was obviously a mistake. I would leave if I had money and somewhere else to go, but I’m afraid he’d come after me.

I’m scared he won’t let me leave without a fight.

Living with him has become unbearable. For every good day we have, there are a handful of bad ones. This man is destroying me from the inside out. He manipulates my emotions everychance he gets, and now that I’m aware of it, I notice it each time. Although I promised Lennon I would tell her if he hit me again, I haven’t found the courage to say anything to anyone.

I want to break up with him and get out of this fucking house. I tried to call it off a few weeks ago after Mason and Liam tricked me into coming over for what I imagine was an intervention of sorts. As soon as the words left my mouth, Weston slammed me against the wall and held his hand to my throat. He promised me if I ever left him, he’d kill me.

I haven’t been able to shake those words or the look in his eyes when he said it.

He really is a monster.

Learning that he lied about his job plus having a record was a hard pill to swallow. I didn’t want to admit I was wrong about Weston, especially to Liam and Mason, who’ve disliked him since the beginning. I’m embarrassed and want my life back.

Leaving won’t be easy. I’ve been trying to plan, doing and saying what he expects to stay under his radar. It’s safer that way.

The last time we were intimate, I told him I was too tired, but he ignored me and pushed for it anyway. He reminded me if I ever left, he’d find me and make sure I’d regret it. It was another threat, one I don’t doubt he’d follow through with, which is why I haven’t figured out how to get out from under his power.

Living in this house and being tormented by him is a prison.

Regardless, I push the thoughts to the back of my mind and am taking it one day at a time, hoping it will be a decent one. Hoping I can get the courage to walk away for good. Hoping I’ll survive him.

This evening will be the first time we’ve left the house together in weeks. We’re going to Hunter’s brother’s wedding reception, and I can’t wait to see everyone. I’ve felt trapped, and Weston has made it very clear he doesn’t want me aroundanyone but him. For the past few days, he’s done nothing but drink nonstop, and I’ve tried to stay out of his way and let him do what he wants. It’s easier. Every response I’ve given him has been a supportive one, and I agree to whatever he says.

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