Page 14 of Waiting for Acceptance (Nashville Nights #5)
LAUREN
What the fuck was that?
The electricity that sped through my entire body when his hand wrapped around my neck took me by surprise, even more so than what he said to me.
I turn back to my friends, hoping that the rest of the night will wash the memory of Fitz out of my brain.
Maybe if I get drunk enough I’ll be able to forget who he is completely and I’ll be able to go to work tomorrow and not daydream the entire time about slamming his head in the industrial copy machine.
“I hate that guy,” I bite out, finishing off the drink I’d forgotten I was holding.
My eyes roll on instinct at the thought of him.
The motherfucker is literally a mole for one of the biggest real estate firms in New York, a firm that is apparently going to be buying out Coleson, I have no business reacting to him the way I just did.
I still can’t wrap my head around it and how I didn’t figure it out sooner.
Blinded by his sexy smirk, hypnotic blue eyes, and the way he smells like a wet dream.
My nose scrunches at the last thought. Okay poor choice of words, but he smells fucking great and the chemicals must do something to my brain. Like shrink it.
So how do we explain the way he opened my door at lunch and made sure no one could see up my dress, or how he complimented me on my performance during our showings?
“Hey, you okay?” Ruby asks.
“I need more alcohol. Personality number two is being really loud and not making a lot of sense to personality number one who is a raging ball of emotions.”
“Spicy marg it is.”
God, I love her.
We’re standing at the bar waiting for my drink, Ruby swaying her hips to the music and drumming her hands on the bar top, but I can’t stop replaying that interaction with Fitz. The inside of my lip is already sore from chewing on it today, but I can’t seem to let it go.
“Spicy margarita.” The bartender sets it down in front of me and I smile at him, but Ruby answers him as I take my first sip.
“Thanks Tony!” My head snaps up and I suck in a breath.
“Another spicy one, Antoooo-nio.”
“Wanna go dancing, Trouble?”
The elevator.
Buttons undone.
Tanned skin beneath my fingertips.
His lips.
“We aren’t going dancing, are we?”
“Oh my god. Oh my god. It was him,” I whisper to myself. “I slept with Fitz?!” My head snaps to the door, knowing he’s probably long gone but I’m still half tempted to run after him and…I don’t know start yelling at him? Ask him if he’s known all this time why he’s just now saying something.
But he didn’t say anything…not directly. Him calling me trouble, my drink order, and the weird as shit coincidence that the bartender's name is Tony all just kind of curb-stomped the memory back into my brain at full speed.
“Karaoke time, bitches!” Shane squeals, derailing my plans.
I can’t believe I slept with the mother freaking devil…and forgot about it. Kill me.
Me
I have some very very very top secret information to tell you. I need you to remain calm(ish) and whatever you do, don’t tell anyone.
Luther
We’re listening. ear emoji
Me
I think I slept with Fitz…
Luther
I will go ahead and preface with, I did not remain calm… you owe me a new flower vase.
Me
How did you break a vase?
Luther
I threw my burrito, duh. Now, give me every SINGLE detail. And what do you mean you THINK?
Me
It was at the conference we went to in New York. I got a phone call that put me in a bad mood, one drink led to another and…Luther I swear to god I didn’t remember anything until I ran into him tonight and it all just hit me like a party bus. I’m kind of freaking out.
Luther
That was not every little detail…
Me
Will you focus? I don’t know if he remembers or if it’s just a coincidence that what he said tonight made me remember. What if he was just as drunk as I was and doesn't remember either?
Luther
Are you gonna ask him? Or are you just gonna play hard to get and pretend like you still don’t remember and let him make a move?
Me
Who said anything about wanting to do it again?
Luther
unamused emoji Be so for real right now…
Me
You haven’t worked with him the way I have. The guy is an asshole. I don’t want anything to do with him. I don’t even want the memory of having slept with him the first time.
Luther
Ugh. FINE. eye roll emoji
Me
You were no help...
Luther
Don’t you have like four straight female friends you could consult about this? Maybe get their opinion since I’m apparently attracted to red flags?
Me
I’m not exactly wanting to tell them I boned the guy I claim to despise.
Luther
CLAIM TO?!?!?!
Me
I’m not bringing you coffee tomorrow.
Luther
Keep lying to yourself, honey.
Me
About what??? The coffee or Fitz?
I check my phone at least a dozen more times while we’re at karaoke and he never responds.
I’m gonna kick his ass for making me overthink this.
Just because I slept with Fitz before I knew who he actually was doesn’t mean I want anything to do with him now.
The guy is literally lying to everyone at Coleson, the place I consider a second home, with people I care about like family.
I have no idea when this acquisition is supposed to happen, or what that means for the current employees but I do know one thing, I won’t let any of them be blindsided by the loss of a job.
I’ll post it on every wall of the office if I have to.