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It’s only after nine a.m., and I’m surprised to see Sophie isn’t on the couch. “Soph?” I call out as I walk through the house.
“Mason?” she shouts, rushing out of the kitchen and charging right at me. “Oh my God, you aren’t in jail!” She wraps her arms around me and squeezes hard.
I hold her to my chest, inhaling the top of her head that smells like sweet strawberries. Chuckling, I shake my head. “Nope.”
Sophie pulls back and looks into my eyes. “What happened? How’d it go?”
Before I can respond, she blinks and notices Serena behind me. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize you had company.”
Serena steps closer and smiles. “I’m Serena, his lawyer. It’s very nice to meet you.” She holds out her hand, and Sophie’s eyes light up.
“Wow, you’re very pretty.” Sophie smacks a hand over her mouth as she uses her other to shake Serena’s. “Sorry, that was a weird thing to say.”
“Definitely not the worst thing to hear on a Monday morning,” Serena teases. “Thank you.” They drop hands. “How are you doing, by the way?”
“I’ve been better, but I literally owe my life to Mason, so I’m damn grateful too.” Sophie looks at me as if I hung the moon, and by the smirk on Serena’s face, she sees it too.
“Well, you’ll be glad to know Mason’s case got dismissed, and he’s a free man,” Serena explains. “There was video evidence plus the witness statements. Yours really helped too, Sophie. Thanks for being so honest.”
Sophie lunges for me again, and this time, I don’t care that Serena is watching and will give me shit for it. Once we pull back, I wipe away the tears on her cheeks.
“I was so nervous you were going to get locked up or something. All these crazy scenarios were running through my mind, and I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if you were punished for something that was my fault.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” I remind her. “But you don’t have to worry. Things will eventually go back to normal.”
“What do you mean?” she asks, studying my features. “Did something else happen?”
“I have to take a leave from work.” I shrug. “My dad thinks the press is going to be on his ass, which means I need to lay low for a while.”
“Oh, Mason. I’m sorry.”
Before I can respond, Serena chimes in. “Perhaps he can use his time off to liven up the place.” She winks. “Help him redecorate or something.”
“Hey, it’s my bachelor pad,” I defend.
“Smells like one too,” she retorts.
Sophie giggles, and after a moment, I walk Serena out of the living room and tell her I’ll be in touch. She gives me shit but understands why I’m smitten with Sophie. She’s ragging me so hard, I nearly kick her ass out the door. I hear her laughter all the way to her car.
Once I shut the door, I lean against it and sigh. It’s already been a hectic day, and it’s far from over.
“Soph,” I say after we eat breakfast and finish off a pot of coffee.
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 going to 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 Seventeen
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 called and informed the director of the symphony what had happened, and he told me to take all the time I need. I decide to take the week off or at least until I can think straight again. Music soothes me, and I could really use it right now, but just 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.
