Mason & Sophie Duet

Chapter 2-1

CHAPTER TWO

SOPHIE

Lennon’s invited me to a party tonight, and considering she’s leaving for her senior year of college next week, I want to spend as much time with her as I can. However, the party is at Mason and Liam’s house, and that’s the last place I want to be after what happened last month.

Mason. Ugh. I feel like a fool, and he’s to blame.

After our strange greeting in front of everyone, we ended up getting a few minutes alone at the bar later while ordering drinks. Stupidly, I gave him my number, and he admitted he’s not “good with relationships.” I cracked a stupid joke about how I wasn’t asking him to marry me or anything, which only made things more weird.

“Sophie, I’m sorry. I don’t want to hurt you. Your sister is dating my best friend, and Brandon will murder me if he found out. He knows I don’t do relationships anymore and will be pissed if he thinks it’d interfere with his relationship with Lennon. So I don’t think we should tell them and just try to be friends, considering I don’t think any of us are going anywhere.” He flashes a half smile, an attempt to soften the blow, but it doesn’t. This is what I get for falling for the devil himself and his sexy as hell good looks.

The word “anymore” isn’t lost on me when he describes how he doesn’t do relationships, though it only leaves me with more questions than answers.

“Friends?” I force a smile as if he hadn’t sliced a knife through my heart. “Of course, I get it. No worries.” I take my drink, but before I can walk away, Mason grabs my elbow, and our eyes meet.

“It really was nice meeting you, Sweet Sophie.”

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I replay the hottest s*x of my life and lament how it would only ever be a one-time thing. I told him I’d keep our secret, but it feels wrong not to tell Lennon. However, I’ve never seen her happier than with Brandon, and I don’t want to jeopardize that by turning him against his best friend. If Mason doesn’t do relationships, then it’s better I know now before I had the chance to fall too deep.

Yep. That’s what I’m telling myself. Doesn’t mean I wasn’t hoping he’d still call or text at some point.

He never did.

I have no reason to be disappointed, considering he warned me, but I still am. Even though our encounter had been short-lived, it meant something to me. I thought we had shared a connection, but I quickly realized it was one-sided on my part.

I never dated in high school or, rather, was never allowed to. Perks of being a pastor’s daughter with really strict rules. Upon graduation, I fled Utah to start college at California State University in Fresno. Once I obtained a degree in music, I was hired to play violin professionally. I met tons of single guys on campus and even lost my virginity to one I dated for a year, but I didn’t feel the same way about him as he did for me, so I ended things.

I went on a few dates with decent men, and even formed some solid friendships, but nothing compared to that night a month ago. Flirting and sharing details with someone I’d just met put me completely out of my element. I’m usually the shy girl who stays home to practice my violin and binge-watch Netflix with a pint of ice cream. Lennon’s the only reason I left the comfort of my cave. While in college, I was more of a homebody than anything. Now, since getting hired to play in the symphony three months ago, I’ve dedicating myself one hundred percent to my craft. I haven’t been worried about having a social life.

My somewhat disappointed heart is Lennon’s fault. I’ve been so busy protecting my sisters that I let my guard down that night. She calls me the “mother hen” of her and Madelyn, our younger sister, and maybe I am. I proudly accept the title like a badge of honor.

Maddie’s still in high school, but I check on her several times a week. She lives in Park City with our parents and can’t wait to move here after she graduates. After I left, our mom became overbearing, and it got worse when Lennon moved out a year later. Maddie is going crazy there without us and tells me as much each time we chat.

I get lost in my thoughts again, and for some reason, they go right back to Mason. Though I have a squeaky-clean reputation and am typically shy around men, Mason made me feel like someone else that night. He didn’t know anything about me, my past, or the stigma that comes with it. I felt brave and bold, and the way he kept eye-f*****g me gave me the confidence to follow him into that bar bathroom. What came next still haunts me in my dreams.

Dirty, filthy, sexy dreams.

“Heading out?” my roommate, Maria, asks. I only moved in after graduation, and we’re still developing a friendship, which is why I don’t invite her to go with me. She’s a few years older and works as much as I do, if not more.

“Yeah, my sister is nearly forcing me out,” I tell her, grabbing my keys. “See you later?”

“We’ll be here,” she singsongs as she pets her cat, Nemo.

Once I’m in the car, I crank the music, hoping that’ll get me in the partying mood. However, my stomach is in knots at the thought of seeing Mason again. I don’t know how to be “friends” with a man I banged on a whim, but to hell with it. I’ll just make a beeline for the booze as soon as I get there.

“Sophie!” Lennon squeals the second she sees me walk in. She looks so pretty with her long golden locks in waves down her back. Most people don’t believe we’re sisters, considering we look nothing alike. She’s a blond-haired, blue-eyed beauty and is a very passionate and loyal person. I have dark hair, brown eyes, and am mostly introverted. She makes me feel comfortable when we’re out, though, because her laughter and excitement are infectious.

“Hey!” I reply when she squeezes me in a tight hug.

She pulls back, studying my face. “Everything okay?”

My eyes immediately widen when I realize I was frowning. “Yeah, totally! Just in desperate need of a drink,” I tell her, and I hate that I’m lying.

Just as she leads me to the kitchen, I spot Mason standing next to Brandon, Liam, and another guy. I drink Mason in, admiring the way his shirt hugs his chest and hating that I want to run my nails down his abs. He meets my gaze and smirks. f*****g bastard. Take that smirk and shove it up your a*s, I want to tell him, but instead, I flash my teeth at him and wave like a stupid fangirl.

Ugh. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

“Who’s that other guy?” I ask Lennon as she digs in the fridge for beer. “The one who looks like he could crush you in a second.”

Lennon flicks her eyes over, then groans loudly. “Hunter.”

“The Hunter?” I inquire, holding back my laughter.

“The one and only. Asshole extraordinaire.” She rolls her eyes, then hands me a can of Bud Light. “You were supposed to meet him at the bar last month with Mason and Liam, but he bailed at the last second.”

She doesn’t sound sad about that either.

“We drinking the cheap s**t tonight?” I tease, popping it open.

“Mason and Liam’s d**g of choice apparently. I bet you they have the good stuff somewhere, though.” She starts opening cabinets until she finds a bottle of Jack. “Voila!”

I chuckle as she holds it up like a trophy.

“Now to find some shot glasses,” she says.

“Next cabinet.” I hear a deep voice, and the hair on the back of my neck rises. Mason.

“Ooh, thanks!” Lennon grabs two, then pours the liquid.

Daring to look, I glance over and see him leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed and a smirk painted on his lips.

“What’s up, Sophie?” He throws me a head nod, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

“Not much,” I say, keeping my jaw locked.

Well, this is awkward as f**k.

“Shots?” Lennon interrupts.

“Let’s do it!” Mason’s head falls back as he shouts at the ceiling.

Kill me. Kill me now.

“Lennon, hook me up!” Liam comes charging through, knocking Mason right into me.

“s**t, sorry. Sophie, right?” Liam grabs my arm and holds me upright until I’m facing him.

“Yeah,” I say once my feet are planted.

“Liam! Watch where you’re going!” Lennon scolds. “Knocked my sister over so fast you nearly impregnated her.”

A roar of laughter echoes, mine included. Lennon doesn’t drink a lot, but when she does, she’s an absolute hoot.

“I said sorry, geez!” He grabs one of the shot glasses filled with whiskey, then hands it to me. “Truce?”

Before grabbing it, I glance at Mason, who’s shooting daggers at Liam, giving me all the fuel I need to be extra nice to Liam. He obviously doesn’t like that Liam is being friendly with me, but too f*****g bad. Mason doesn’t get to have an opinion on who I hang out with.

“Truce.” I tilt my head back, then swallow it down.

“Yeah!” Liam shouts with both hands raised above his head, getting the rest of the partygoers going too. A round of hollers shakes the walls, and I smile wide at the obnoxiousness of my new friend, Liam.

“Another?” Lennon asks with a grin.

“Yep. Keep ’em coming,” I order, handing her my empty glass.

“Soph…” Mason comes closer, then whispers in my ear, “You don’t have to do this.”

“Do what?” I pierce him with a sharp glare as he steps back. “You worried about me?”

He brushes a hand through his dark hair that’s short on the sides and longer on top. Hair that I’ve pulled. “I just don’t want you thinking you have to drink because of me or anything.”

“Why would you think that, Mason?” I narrow my eyes at his insinuation. “I drank before I knew you. We’re friends; I know that. So why don’t you take your ego and sit back down?”

Liam overhears us and brings a fist up to his lips and smiles wide as he stifles a laugh. “Daaaaamn. I like this chick!” He gives me a high five, then wraps his arm around my shoulders. “Mason can sometimes be a mood killer. Don’t mind him. Come drink with me. I’m way more fun.”

“Dude, what the f**k?” Mason glares at him, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Relax, man.” Liam slaps his shoulder. “Let me get you a drink so your uptight a*s can loosen up.”

“I’m just fine,” Mason insists, his jaw tight as he shoots daggers.

“You p*****s done gossiping and ready to party?” Hunter comes barreling in and shouts like a crazed-out beast. He holds up his beer can as he yells, spilling it on himself.

Liam throws his head back and woots loudly, fist pounding his chest.

“Should’ve warned ya, they get a bit insane,” Lennon tells me, then starts scanning the room for Brandon. “I’m gonna go find my boyfriend. You okay in here?”

“She’s fine, Lenny.” Liam flashes a smirk. “I’ll take good care of her.”

Lennon furrows her brows at the unwanted nickname. “Don’t call me that.” Then she laughs as she pushes Hunter out of her way and walks out of the kitchen.

I watch as Mason grabs a new beer from the fridge, cracks it open, then stands silently as he drinks it. I’d feel bad for him, but seriously, what did he expect? Tell me we can be just friends and then act like he gives a s**t what I do?

I don’t think so.

“I bet I can kick your a*s at pool,” Liam blurts out. “Wanna play?”

“You have a pool table?” I ask as I pour myself another shot. If I’m going to get through this night, I can’t be sober.

“Hell yeah. It’s in the back room. Let’s go, new friend.” He flashes a wink and smirks at Mason, and it’s then I start putting the pieces together.

He knows.

He knows that Mason and I hooked up, and he’s either trying to rattle his friend, or he’s giving him s**t for not pursuing anything with me further. Either way, I don’t mind being his pawn in this game. I’m well aware of the bro-code and know that Liam isn’t hitting on me, which only fuels me to play along.