Page 26 of Waiting for Acceptance (Nashville Nights #5)

LAUREN

I’m pretty sure I haven’t moved an inch over the last hour and a half. My stomach is growling, Ginny is staring at me like I might be a ghost, and I can’t stop thinking about Fitz.

Stupid, handsome, be my fake girlfriend , Fitz.

“I’m an idiot. He’s killed all of my good brain cells, Gin.”

Meow .

She gets it.

Knock knock knock.

What a perfect time for company. I still look like a bridge troll and now I’m starving. I kiss Ginny on the nose, pausing when the memory of Fitz doing the same thing to me flashes through my mind.

Knock knock knock.

I shake my head to clear my thoughts and head for the door, freezing when I open it.

“Mom?” I couldn’t hide the shock on my face if my life depended on it.

“Please tell me you don’t make a habit of answering the door in such scandalous attire.” She’s clutching her handbag like it’s appalled by my appearance too.

“Um, no. Typically my attire includes pants, it’s just been a…weird morning.” She’s walking through the door before I can even finish my sentence.

“I sure hope you have a good reason for blowing off Miles Henderson this weekend.” Miles! That’s his name.

“Yeah, Mom. I was kind of busy being a bridesmaid. In my best friend’s wedding.” She actually scoffs. As if that’s not a valid enough reason.

“Yes, I was there for the ceremony, Lauren. Miles would have made a lovely date. He’s very likable, and didn’t I tell you he graduated from Berkley?”

“You did. Which I’m sure is very impressive to someone, however, I wouldn’t care if he was Mr. Berkley , I don’t need you and Dad trying to set me up with someone.”

“Well, wouldn’t it be better than being alo—What in God’s name is that?” She freezes when Ginny hops up on the counter next to me.

“That’s a Ginny.” I smile, scratching underneath Ginny’s chin, earning me a very loud symphony of purrs.

“A cat?” She scrunches her face in obvious disapproval.

“Yes.”

“It’s on the counter.”

“Yes.”

“Cats don’t belong on the counter. They belong on the floor. Or an alleyway behind a restaurant searching for scraps in a dumpster.” My mouth drops open in surprise.

“That’s amazing. That’s exactly where I found her!” Her eyes pop as she tries to figure out if I’m lying. “I mean, I know it’s not ideal. I could have adopted from a shelter or something but the poor thing was just covered in garbage and my heart couldn’t take it. I had to bring her home.”

“You’re joking.” It’s almost a plea for me to tell her that I am.

“Yes, Mother. I found her at Tank and Ruby’s house.”

“Oh.” I see her visibly relax and close my eyes to keep them from rolling. I’m annoyed by the fact that Fitz has made me realize how often I do that. “You will call Miles today and apologize and if he happens to be forgiving enough to reschedule the date, you will go .”

“Um, no.”

“What do you mean, no? ” Ginny runs into the other room, likely frightened by my mother’s tone and I envy that she has the option to do so.

Here we go. Moment of…fake truth.

“I mean no, I won’t be going out with him. I’ll apologize for the misunderstanding but that’s about all I can offer you.”

“What misunderstanding?” I imagine she would have frown lines if her Botox injections didn’t keep her from showing emotion.

“I’m seeing someone else, Mom.” Her body language changes as she looks at me.

“Who?”

“Um, his name is Fitz.” She rolls her eyes.

“How pretentious.”

Oh fuck meeeee. Am I turning into my mother?

“It sounds like he works at a skateboard shop or a Dairy Queen or something.”

“No, he doesn’t.”

“Well, what’s his full name? What does he do? How long have you two been together?”

“Um, slow down. Don’t they usually let people answer during interrogations?” She finally lays her handbag on the counter, not before eyeing it for Ginny first, and crosses her arms over her chest.

“This isn’t an interrogation. I’m just curious.

Why didn’t you tell me about him when I told you Miles was going to call you?

” I cross my arms and begin pinching the inside of my arm, a nervous habit I’ve had for as long as I can remember.

We didn’t exactly discuss our backstory so I guess I’m winging it and he’s just going to have to go along with whatever I pull out of my ass.

“Because it wasn’t really official yet but we’ve been…hanging out, I guess for a while. He’s also in real estate?—”

“ Hanging out , how romantic.” There goes that all-too-familiar attitude again. I don’t say anything else, I can’t. I don’t want to keep lying unnecessarily so we just stare at each other awkwardly. Then she grabs her handbag and turns to leave.

“Are you sure he doesn’t work at a Dairy Queen?”

“I’ve worked with him every day for seven months, Mom. I’m sure.” She gives me a judgemental look but says nothing else until she reaches the door.

“I’ll inform Miles of the misunderstanding. Would hate for you to embarrass yourself with the story about the skateboard shop owner.”

Cue the eye roll.

“And keep that disgusting animal off the countertops, Lauren. You have no idea what kind of diseases it may have.”

“Bye, Mom!” I yell, throwing my head back with my eyes closed, praying she actually leaves.

The door latches behind her and I’m at least grateful she isn’t the ‘ slamming the door’ type of mother, since I’ve only just realized my headache is gone.

I take time to fill my favorite Tumblr full of ice water before snuggling onto my couch with my favorite blanket and Ginny takes that as her cue to curl up at my feet.

I unlock my phone and chew on my thumbnail as I stare at the group chat.

The last thing sent was a video of Hendrix putting on a show, lip-synching to an AC/DC song with one of Tank’s old Guitar Hero guitars, wearing underwear, a pair of sunglasses, and crew socks.

I watch it again and giggle then blow out a breath as I begin typing.

Me

Is everyone sitting down?

Ruby

Just plopped down on the couch.

Shane

Teaching an art class but I have a chair nearby. eye emoji

Tay

On the road, so yes.

Leah

I can beeee.

Me

Fitz and I are…dating.

Shane

The floor is now the canvas.

Tay

Tucker is now lecturing me about gasping while he’s driving.

Ruby

Dayumm. Sneaky little thing.

Leah

shocked emoji Detailssssss.

Me

Sorry to disappoint you, but there’s not really any. Not yet. It’s new, but we made it official this morning.

Tay

AS IN HE STAYED OVER AFTER THE WEDDING AND YOU SEALED THE DEAL THIS MORNING?! THIS MORNING?

Me

Um, no. He brought me coffee though.

Shane

I think that’s even more romantic. happy tears emoji But coffee is my love language soooo. shrug emoji

Leah

Look who found their way over the line between love and hate halo emoji

Me

Let’s pump, nay, slam on the breaks. No one is in love. Just…lets call it exploring the other side of the line.

Ruby

So you guys HAVEN’T slept together curious emoji

Shit.

I hate lying to my friends. They’re the only ones I have ever been completely transparent with, but keeping the secret of me and Fitz, our history, and our current situation, feels like the least humiliating way to go about this.

A year from now when this is all over, they’ll just think I’m a regular heartbroken girl.

So I see no need to let them in on the expiration date of this fake relationship.

Me

Dirty details another day. I’m still nursing a hangover and I need sustenance.

Tay

Time to call Fitz then. smirk emoji

Ruby

Tucker better double wrap it this week. Sounds like someone is in heat.

Tay

cat emoji

Shane

skull emoji

Leah

Oh, geez. ROFL emoji

I lock my phone and toss it to the side. I’ll tell them about the trip to New York later. Time for a nap.