Page 24 of Waiting for Acceptance (Nashville Nights #5)

FITZ

Being someone’s date to a wedding but not going to the wedding together is definitely a first for me.

I guess that comes with the territory of being the date of a bridesmaid who had to be at the wedding location the entire day.

I pull up to the address Lauren emailed me and pause when I realize it’s a gravel road in the middle of nowhere.

Either she organized my death, or I’m extremely overdressed for some backwoods wedding.

When I pull around the circle driveway I see that the address on the whitewashed brick house matches the one logged on my GPS so I park my car and make my way around the back.

“Holy shit,” I mumble to myself. The most elegant-looking backyard wedding I’ve ever seen lies in wait along with a party tent just down the hill.

I check my watch and see that I have a few minutes to find my seat before the ceremony begins.

As soon as I’m settled I feel my phone vibrate in my jacket pocket.

Trouble

Are you here yet?

Me

Have you ever known me not to be punctual?

Trouble

That’s not an answer.

Me

Yes, I’m here.

I don’t see the three little dots appear again so I lock my phone and put it away, just as Tucker and the other guys make their way up front.

I catch a less-than-thrilled look from Tank but choose to ignore him until the girls begin walking out a few moments later.

The first girl out is the blonde from all of her photos, followed by the dark-haired girl with tattoos, and then the other brown-headed girl with tight curls.

When Lauren walks out in a fitted blue dress with a dangerously high slit up the leg I feel my breath halt in my lungs.

Fuck me, she looks sensational.

I can’t take my eyes off her, which makes it easy to notice the way she and another bridesmaid are talking through their teeth to each other. When her eyes land on mine, I give her a wink and she immediately looks away.

“Who gives away this bride to be?”

“Oh, she makes her own choices, her mother and I just support her in them.” The crowd shares a laugh and I find myself smirking at the statement as well.

I wonder what that’s like? Having parents that just …

support you in life? Parents that allow you to make your own decisions, possibly with encouraging guidance, but in the end you’re the one in control of your own life.

The couple exchange vows, and all the while I can’t stop watching Lauren.

She looks at her friends in adoration, subtly wiping a tear away as Tucker finishes his vows, and it makes me wonder what her soft side looks like.

The ceremony concludes and everyone makes their way to the reception tent while the wedding party takes photos.

I’ve been here for an hour and a half and have yet to talk to my date.

I’m beginning to wonder why she was so upset about not having a date when she clearly doesn’t seem to have the time for one.

Then I hear the DJ announce the couple and the rest of the wedding party walks in with them, smiling and clapping as Tucker dips Taylor in the middle of the dance floor. Finally, Lauren starts walking my way.

“I was beginning to wonder if you invited me here simply to ignore me the whole night.” As I expected, those deep blue eyes roll around, only this time they pop in what looks like fear at the end.

I can’t fight the smirk that finds its way to my lips and wouldn’t even if I could.

“Remembering what I said about rolling your eyes at me, Sweetheart?”

Her features shift and she squares her shoulders. “No.”

Little liar.

“Sure, you’re not.” She turns away from me to watch her friends share their first dance and crosses her arms over her chest.

“I didn’t invite you here.” I look down at her with a frown. “You said you were beginning to wonder if I invited you here to ignore you. But you invited yourself.” She shrugs.

“Well, don’t make it sound so rude,” I tease, catching a sassy glare from her. “What I did was out of the kindness of my heart.” The sass thickens.

“I believe the words ‘ purely selfish reasons’ were used? I hardly call that kind.” I step in front of her, obscuring her view of the dance floor.

“Are you going to be trouble for me tonight, Sweetheart?” My tone must rub her the way I hoped it would because she averts her gaze. People begin clapping and I assume the first dance is over. The music grows louder and she finally meets my eye again.

“I’m going to get a drink. Excuse me.” I shake my head as she saunters away, her hips swaying with attitude at every step.

She stops to give Tucker a hug and they speak briefly before she makes her way over to where all of her friends are gathered near the bar.

I’m never uncomfortable at events like this, but my lack of familiarity with this particular one is making me second-guess my brilliance in offering to escort her here tonight.

Especially since she’s spent all of five minutes talking to me and has already run off in the opposite direction.

I’m quickly pulled from my thoughts when I feel a light tap on my arm. “Hi there, I’m afraid I don’t recognize you. I’m Marilyn, the mother of the bride.” I give her a smile and set my scotch glass, that might as well be part of my hand at this point, down on the table.

“Hello, Marilyn. We haven’t met before but it’s a pleasure. I’m Fitz, Lauren’s date.” Her eyes widen slightly at the mention of the word date .

“Oh my, well. I see her good taste expands further than her wardrobe and friends… I hope.” She gives me a knowing look that is both charming and confusing.

“You better treat that girl well. I may not share their DNA but all of those girls over there are my babies.” We both look over to see Lauren joining the girls as she continues, “And she’s got a whole lot of people looking out for her.

” I feel a nudge on my bicep and see her nod nonchalantly at where the groom and the rest of the pack are looking at us.

Unease settles in my chest and I must say, it’s a feeling I’m not too fond of.

“Yeah, I’ve noticed that.” I nod to the group and smile back at Marilyn.

“It’s been lovely meeting you, Marilyn but I’m going to take a chance on asking a beautiful woman to dance with me.

” She simply nods and smiles before turning to talk to someone at the table next to us.

The conversation between the girls is quiet, but not quiet enough .

“...and he offered to come with me.” Lauren’s small shoulder lifts and Taylor jumps in.

“As an arch nemesis does, naturally .”

That’s my cue.

“Could the arch nemesis steal you for a dance?” I see her body stiffen ever so slightly, finding a little too much pleasure in the reaction she has to me. Negatively or otherwise. She turns around and her eyes fall to my outstretched hand.

“Is this the part where you grab the cake cutter and bring me to my demise?” A laugh rumbles out of me and I’ll be damned if she doesn’t smile too. I spin her onto the dance floor and the look of shock on her face is priceless.

“Don’t tell me you assumed I couldn’t dance.”

“Okay, I won’t.” I pull her body flush with mine as we continue to sway to the music.

“Enlighten me, Trouble. This feisty little attitude of yours— are you like this with everyone or is it something you bring out just for me?” She takes such a deep breath that there’s not an inch of space between us.

“Hmm, I’d tell you, but I’d rather not give you the satisfaction.”

“So it’s just for me then.” I smirk at her and she glares up at me.

“Interesting that that’s the answer that would bring you satisfaction.” I spin her around once, quickly bringing her back in.

“What brings you satisfaction?” I tip my chin in her direction.

“Dirty.” The flirty way her eyebrows raise and the tone of her voice has my blood traveling south.

“Sweetheart, if you want it to be, it can be. You can tell me every dark and dirty desire you have and I would explore every one of them with you.” Her eyes pop and her cheeks flame.

“But I simply meant, in life. What brings you satisfaction?” That addicting look of desire falls from her face, replaced instead by confusion.

“Oh,” she says, dropping her eyes as she thinks. “Giving you frown lines.” I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to bend someone over my knee as much as I have this little troublemaker.

“Brat,” I mumble into her ear, noticing the goosebumps spread down her arms.

Interesting.

“Asshole,” she bites back through her teeth.

Lauren left me at our table almost an hour ago to accompany her girlfriends on the dance floor, and I haven’t seen her since. Which isn’t something that would typically bother me, if it weren’t for the angry-looking man stalking toward me.

“Lucy!” he practically grunts as he falls into the chair across from me. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“It’s Fitz,” I correct him.

“I know.” He smirks humorlessly at me. I let out a sigh, giving up any hope of him ever using my real name.

“I’m here as Lauren’s date. Was that not obvious by the dancing earlier?” His nostrils flare and his jaw flexes.

“How exactly did that happen?”

Anger bubbles in my chest at his question. “Excuse me?”

“Just wondering how she goes from hating you to you being her date to her best friend's wedding.” I lean forward, resting my elbows on my thighs.

“Ever consider that it’s none of your damn business?”

“Listen, you fu—” He’s quickly on his feet, but someone steps in between us before he can get another word out.

“Simmer down, please. Taylor will kill you if you cause a scene at her wedding.” She turns to face me and extends her hand. “I’m Ruby.”

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit terrified to accept it.

“Fitz,” I offer a small smile and shake her hand anyway.

“Well, I hate to interrupt you boys, but ours have a bedtime so we gotta get going.” She nods towards the exit and before things can become awkward, or worse—hostile, they say goodbye and take off in the opposite direction.

Why the hell does this guy care so much about me being here with Lauren? What the hell did I ever do to him?

“Hey there, date , you ready to go?” I look up to see a smiling Lauren, her forehead glistening with sweat from dancing so hard and her hair slightly disheveled. As if she’s been continuously running her hands through it.

“Are you drunk?”

“Yeah, so? Isn’t that how you like me anyway? People find I’m much more agreeable when I have a few drinks in me.” She’s so…unstable? The poised, fierce, controlled hurricane I’m familiar with looks like a soft breeze could blow her over at any moment, as her arms flop at her sides as she speaks.

“How often do you get drunk like this?” She shrugs and sinks into a chair, practically melting onto the table as she props her cheek up on her palm.

“Whenever we go out. Sometimes on girls' nights. On work trips, apparently,” she mumbles the last part before reaching for my scotch glass to finish it off. I grab her wrist and stop her before she can.

“Please tell me you’re never left alone when you’re like this.”

“Aww. You worried about me, Fitzgerald?” I can tell she’s trying her best to glare but it’s not working.

“Do you understand how reckless that is? Anyone could—” I stop myself and rub my hand across my mouth as she snatches hers back and stands up so fast I fear she might actually fall over.

“Could what? Take advantage of me?” My blood boils at the thought, causing me to loosen my tie as I stand to face her.

“Exactly.” I can smell the tequila on her breath as she stares back at me. Beautiful blue eyes completely empty.

“So, what? It’s only okay when it’s you reaping the benefits of my drunkenness?

” I lift her up and throw her over my shoulder, completely aware there’s a fifty-fifty chance she’ll vomit all down the back of my suit.

When we finally reach a quiet place on the outside of the reception tent, I place her feet on the ground and back her into the support beam.

“I didn’t know you were blackout drunk that night. If I had, I would have stopped you in that elevator.”

“Regretting it now, are we?” Tears fill her eyes, causing my chest to tighten. Fuck.

“No. But, I would have waited til you were sober enough to remember the first time I fucked you, and I sure as hell won’t let you forget the next time I do.” Her eyes pop and she rushes past me to empty the contents of her stomach in the grass.

Well…I’ve never gotten that reaction before.