Page 4 of Waiting for Acceptance (Nashville Nights #5)

LAUREN

I can’t remember the last time I felt this anxious while at work. Usually, my anxiety comes from pretty much anywhere else but here.

Stuck behind a log truck on the interstate? Obviously.

Seeing a text that says we need to talk from literally anyone. Sure.

Quarterly Sunday night dinner at my parents? Undoubtedly.

But at work? Never.

I work extremely hard to keep myself balanced and as stress-free as possible.

I bust my ass at work because I like the feeling of accomplishment, I go for runs to clear my head when my brain feels too loud, and I avoid anything having to do with my parents at all costs.

Work is one of the very few places I actually feel confident, in control, and on occasion, happy.

However, today I can’t stop peeling off my nail polish and staring blankly at my black computer screen in anticipation something is about to happen.

Jack and Barbara Coleson started Coleson Realty almost thirty years ago, and have done an absolutely outstanding job building this company into what it is.

What started out as a small mom-and-pop style establishment, has grown into one of the most sought-after firms in Nashville.

Whether people want to buy, sell, or rent a place, they call us first.

Their oldest son, Marcus, has taken over for the most part so we don’t see much of Jack and Barbara anymore.

So the fact that they are both here today has me extremely on edge.

I came in early, like I always do, with plans to get my schedule sorted before our team meeting, but all of those plans went straight out the window when I walked in and saw them in the conference room with someone I didn’t recognize.

They were in a deep, hushed conversation when I passed the door, so I kept my head down and came straight to my office.

Our morning meeting begins in five minutes and I swear my clock is ticking louder with every passing second.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

“Earth to Lauren!” My eyes snap to the door, seeing Luther staring at me expectantly.

“What?” I ask, clearly having missed something.

“Girl, you are clicking that pen like you’ve been personally victimized by it. Are you okay?” Then he holds his hand up to his chest and gasps. “It didn’t leak on that gorgeous blue dress you’re wearing, did it?” I laugh and toss the pen onto my desk.

“Do you think it would be anywhere but the trash can if it had?” I tilt my head at him and he visibly relaxes.

“Well, then what’s got you so spaced today?” He comes into my office and perches on the side of my desk, ready for whatever tea I may have to spill. This is why I love Luther. He’s always ready to pour or absorb the tea.

Luther was going through some shit a few years ago and I was the only one that seemed to notice.

Silent pain recognizes silent pain I guess.

I asked him to go out with me and my friends one night for what he thought was a date—it wasn’t—but it was what helped him finally come out to me.

We talked for hours after leaving Topgolf that night and we’ve been super close ever since.

He and his boyfriend, Reggie, are one of the four happiest couples I know and I just can’t help but smile every time I see how happy he is now.

“Okay if you keep going silent on me, I’m gonna have to assume it’s related to me and I don’t really need that complex right now when there’s a new guy that’s as hot as the core of the earth in the conference room.”

“So I didn’t imagine that then?” I ask in a low voice, leaning in closer to him.

“Not at all. You’d have to be blind not to think so. Not even Tom Ford looks that good in Tom Ford. I’ve never seen a suit look like it was painted on someone before.” He lets out a little playful moan and I giggle as I swat his leg with my folder full of houses I’m showing today.

“Not that . I just meant that there was someone in there with Jack and Barbara this morning.” He rears back in shock.

“Jack and Babs are here?” The worry on his face makes the same feeling wash over me again.

“They weren’t in there when you saw the guy?” My brows knit together in confusion.

“No, he—” We get interrupted when Marcus knocks on my office door, waving his finger between me and Luther.

“You are the last two I ever thought I would have to say this to but, you’re late.” His brows raise and he nods to the conference room. Luther gives me the we’re in trouble with the boss look and I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing.

I grab my notebook and pen off the desk and untuck the piece of short black hair from behind my ear before walking into the conference room.

Lo and behold Jack and Barbara are at the head of the conference table, and a guy who is…

definitely not lacking in genetic privilege, sits next to Jack, typing away on his phone.

Luther bumps my arm and his eyes roll to the back of his head and I silently scold him for thinking dirty thoughts about another man.

“Jack, Barbara, what a surprise!” I finally say, rounding the table to give Barbara a hug. She’s a natural office mother when she’s here, always making sure everyone is taken care of and genuinely one of the kindest people I’ve ever met.

“Oh my gosh, look at you. You just get more beautiful every time I see you!” she exclaims, standing to pull me into a hug. She smells like Chanel No. 5 and I know for a fact I will for the rest of the day now too.

“Which is not nearly enough. How are Sarge and Cooper?” Barbara has the cutest Corgi’s I’ve ever seen in my life. If I were to ever get a dog, that’s hands down the breed I would get.

“Oh, they’re good. Sarge had to have surgery last week but you know he’s a tough one. He’s recovering like a champ.” I cross my arms over my chest and give her a playful smirk.

“You know, Champ would be a really cute name for a puppy.” I wink at Babs before catching a chastising glance from Jack.

“You’re still a troublemaker, I see.” Jack shoots me a sly grin before looking back at the papers he’s flipping through. My brows knit together as something familiar flutters through my chest, but it’s gone just as quickly as it appeared.

“Me? Never .” Marcus comes in from rounding up the rest of the agents that were running late and I secretly loathe that I was one of them today.

I’m never late for a meeting, and the one day I am is the day the freaking owners of the company are here.

Mind you, I was late because they’re here, but I digress.

“Okay, everyone. Have a seat,” Marcus announces, shutting the door behind him.

When I look at the table the only open seat is next to the new guy that is still texting.

I look at Luther and roll my eyes before pulling the chair out and sitting down, keeping my attention on Marcus and not on the loud ass typing happening next to me.

Who leaves their volume turned on in a meeting?

Marcus starts talking about how we’re moving into what is considered the slow season and reminding us that if we keep putting in the work, we shouldn’t see too big of a difference in our numbers. Then I hear the faint whoosh sounds of an email being sent and something in me snaps.

My head whips to the side. “Are you serious?” The whispered scold is met with a look of indifference.

“I don’t know who you are or why you’re even here but I do know rule number one of human decency is to pay attention when someone is talking.

” He leans forward, keeping his eyes—which are the most insane color of blue I’ve ever seen—locked on mine when he answers.

“And who told you I’m a decent human?” I roll my eyes and see the way his jaw tightens.

He sits back in his chair still not taking his eyes off me.

I don’t know if he’s doing it to intentionally piss me off at this point, but if so, it’s working.

There’s nothing I despise more than people who don’t pay attention when someone else is talking.

Anyone who’s had that sinking feeling of seeming invisible when saying something important to them and having no one pay attention would know exactly what I mean.

When I finally snap out of it I realize I’m gripping my pen so hard my knuckles are white.

“Now, to move on to what I’m sure you all are wondering. Why are Jack and Babs here and who’s the guy in Marcus’s chair?” There’s a collective laugh around the table, though I’m not in a very giggly mood so I opt for a forced smile. Jack stands up, followed by Barbara and the texter .

“It’s good to be back in the office with you all.

Reminds me of the good ole days being in the field, helping families find and eventually sell their first homes but, Babs and I aren’t here to reminisce about the past. We are here because we’ve brought on someone new that we think will help… improve some things around here.”

Honestly, Jack. Could you be any more vague?

“He’s come all the way from New York to join our team and we are very lucky to have him. So I trust that you will all treat him with the same kindness and respect you were shown upon joining the Coleson family.” The room is awkwardly silent for a moment.

“I’m a little confused. What exactly is his position going to be here?

” I ask in what I hope is the kindest way possible, but if he’s coming on as an agent I know people are going to be a little more hesitant to welcome him with open arms. We’re already at our max number of agents and this is a pretty competitive field.

“He’ll be an agent, but he’ll also be weighing in on other departments that can be improving.” I want to say something—something positive or encouraging—to welcome him and show Jack that I’m gonna be a team player, but I’m just not feeling it at the moment.

“And our new agent’s name is?” Luther, God bless his soul, chimes in and cuts the growing tension in the room.

“Oh, forgive me. I guess a proper introduction would be helpful.” The gruff tone of Jack’s laugh fills the room. “This is Mr?—”

“Fitz,” he interrupts Jack, smiling at everyone in the room.

Though it’s going to take more than a bright smile with perfectly pointed canines to get the bad taste out of my mouth about him.

E-mailing during a meeting, interrupting Jack, and the entitlement dripping from his Tom Ford suit and expensive cologne that I would like to drown in if it were on literally anyone else.

He smells like a rich man with good taste and I loathe myself for being so attracted to it.

“Okay. Dismissed everyone.” Marcus opens the door and everyone begins chatting as they file out of the room. I take a deep breath to collect myself, push away from the table and stand with my head held high—a habit and a necessity since this guy is as tall as the Empire fucking State Building.

“Welcome to Coleson, Fitz ,” I say, baring my teeth as I give him my most customer service-coded smile. “I’m Lauren, Lauren Long.” I offer him my hand and instead of shaking it the bastard slides both of his into his pockets and barely spares me a second glance before responding.

“Happy to be here, Sweetheart.”