Page 202 of Between Hate and Desire

Sorry, ran late. On our way now.

Lennon

Okay, I’ll meet you in the hallway! I have big news!

Something feels off when she reads my message but doesn’t reply. I want to tell her and Maddie together, so I’ve been holding my tongue all night.

“Okay, they’re finally on their way. I’m going to wait in the hall. Can you hold Alison for me?” I ask Maddie so Hunter can join me. He knows I’m not a fan of Weston, and though Sophie begged me not to say anything to anyone about the bruises, I was pissed off one day, and it slipped. Hunter was livid, and somehow, I was able to calm him down. Honestly, I need Hunter to be my buffer so I can get Sophie alone for a few minutes.

They drive up in Weston’s car—quite fast, I notice—but they don’t get out immediately after he parks. I start to worry, so I walk across the parking lot, and she finally opens the door.

“Hey!” I greet, coming over to hug her. Her face perks up, and when I pull back, I notice how heavy her eye makeup is. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, we just lost track of time.”

I don’t buy it. Something’s wrong.

Weston rounds the car and harshly grabs Sophie’s hand, pulling her away from me. “I need a beer. Let’s go.”

I turn around and look at Hunter with a scowl on my face.

That asshole has some nerve.

“Sorry, but I’mnota fan,” he murmurs to me as we follow them.

“Join the club.”

“He better watch it before he gets his ass handed to him,” Hunter says.

Once we’re back inside, I carefully watch Sophie and Weston. Mason and Liam eye him pretty hard as well, the guy not making any effort to be nice to anyone. Hell, he’s not even being nice to Sophie. She’s not acting like herself either, which scares the shit out of me. She’s timid and won’t make eye contact with anyone.

“I gotta run to the bathroom and change Alison. Wanna come with me, Soph?” I ask with a smirk, daring her boyfriend to stop her.

“Sure,” she says, and I motion for Maddie to come too.

Before leaving, I lean down to grab the diaper bag, then whisper in Hunter’s ear, “Watch him. I need time with Sophie.”

He winks, crossing his arms over his broad chest. Weston would be an idiot to cross my man or, hell, any of the guys here. Mason and Liam especially.

I kiss his cheek, then walk out with my sisters following.

Once we’re in the ladies’ room, I lock the door behind us and grab Sophie’s arm so she turns toward me. “Please tell me you’re not trying to cover up a black eye, Soph. I swear to God, I will murder him.”

“It’s not what you think,” she protests weakly.

“Did he hit you?” Maddie asks, standing firmly next to me.

“He didn’t mean to. Guys, stop. Please,” she begs, her bottom lip trembling. The bastard has her so scared, and she’s defending him.

“Please explain then,” I say softly. I want to hear how him hitting her in the eye was an accident.

“Weston was punching the wall, over and over again. I tried to stop him from hurting himself by stepping in front of him, and he accidentally decked me,” she explains, but I’m not buying it. “He didn’t mean to, and he felt awful afterward.”

Oh, as long as he feels awful…

I mentally roll my eyes.

“Why was he punching the wall?” Maddie asks.

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