Page 72 of Between Regrets and Promises

She looks up at me, her eyes so damn sad and tired. “Yeah?”

“We should probably get your things from the house. I assume at some point his family is gonna have to go through everything there, and you won’t get the chance then.”

She nods as if she’d been thinking the same thing. “Will you come with me?”

“Is that seriously even a question?” I’m not letting her out of my damn sight again.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

SOPHIE

Being here is surreal.Everything about the past three days has felt like a dream or, rather, a nightmare. Mason getting arrested for Weston’s murder scared the crap out of me, but knowing all charges have been dropped eases my anxiety some. Still, I worry about him and what this means for his career and future. He’s been put on temporary leave until who knows when. The only thing he’s told me is that his dad suggested it until things “calm down.” Whatever the hell that means.

After his court hearing on Monday, we went to Weston’s house to grab my things, and I could see the pain and anger written all over Mason’s face as he took in the scene. Shit’s knocked over from our fight that morning, holes are in the walls, and the kitchen remains a fucking mess. He didn’t say anything, but I caught him shaking his head and watched his hands ball into fists several times.

Once I had everything I needed, I left that house once and for all. I breathed the biggest sigh of relief. One I’d been holding in for six months.

Back at Mason’s house, I informed the director of the symphony what had happened, and he told me to take all thetime I need. I take the week off or at least until I can think straight again. Music soothes me, and although I could use it right now, the thought of picking up my violin and playing brings me to tears. My heart isn’t in it. Hell, not even super glue could put my shattered heart back together right now.

I still don’t know how I feel about what happened or the fact that Weston is gone. My heart and head are conflicted, torn between losing the man I had fallen in love with and a man who was nothing like the man I first met. With his witty personality and sweet charm, he lured me into his web. Once I was addicted to him, he ripped the rug out from under me and revealed the monster he truly was. I thought I knew him and thought I loved him. Hell, I thought he loved me too. But you don’t hit and hurt the person you love. He revealed his demons to me on a gold platter the moment I moved in with him.

I should’ve left sooner. Fear and the hope that things would change kept me a prisoner in his home.

He could’ve killed me.

He had a gun.

A gun I didn’t know existed.

Would he have used it on me? The next fight? The next time I pushed his buttons too far? The next time he drank?

Questions flood my thoughts as I squeeze my eyes shut and try to push them away. I can’t think of the what-ifs because it’ll send me spiraling again, and I won’t let him win. He doesn’t get to control me anymore. I’m free.

“Soph?” I feel a hand on my shoulder, and I relax at Mason’s soothing voice.

I open my eyes to my savior, the man who saved my life, after falling asleep on the couch after breakfast. He’s dressed in slacks and a button-up shirt, and I make sure my gaze doesn’t linger on him for too long.

My feelings for him have always been there, even when I forced myself to pretend they weren’t and pushed them away in hopes they’d disappear. Knowing he only saw me as a friend made it possible to ignore them, and for years now, I did. From the moment I started dating Weston, things were strained between Mason and me, but it didn’t mean I stopped caring about him. Mason tried to warn me, to protect me, and wanted me to understand the concerns he had about the man I was sharing a bed with every night. Bitterness that he didn’t give us a shot three years ago and my pride kept me from listening. He’s always looked out for me, and I know that now.

Blinking up at him, I take in his features. Still gorgeous, built, and tan, every inch of him is pure perfection.

“You okay?”

I inhale a deep breath, then exhale slowly. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just thinking about all the unpacking I should be doing. But at least I managed to finish a load of laundry so I can hang up my clothes.”

He takes a seat next to me on the couch. The couch I’ve been sleeping on the past two nights because I didn’t want to be an inconvenience to Liam and take over his bed again. We argued about it, but I insisted, and he eventually caved since he barely fit. The cushions are comfortable for a little bit, but after a few hours, the springs were killing me. I stretch my arms above my head, tilting my head until a crack sounds.

Mason furrows his brows and frowns. “Your back hurts?”

I sigh, slumping my arms down to my sides. “Everything hurts.”

“Let’s find something to binge since we’ll be stuck in this house for a while.” Mason grabs the remote and clicks on the Netflix app. “Might as well be on house arrest since I’ve beenorderedto stay hidden until further notice.”

His dad told him to keep a low profile and not talk to the media about anything. Being the DA’s son and not being in jail already has people making assumptions about the whole situation.

“Sure, might as well. I haven’t watched TV in so long I don’t know what’s good,” I admit, reaching for a blanket.

Mason grins.

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