Page 42 of Waiting for Acceptance (Nashville Nights #5)

FITZ

I have very strategically planned out my evening.

I will show up, find out what “family matters” need to be discussed, and take some photos with my father for the press, I’m sure.

Then as soon as they’ve sang happy birthday to him and brought out what I’m sure will be an overly extravagant cake, I’m out of here.

I never celebrate my own birthday, so I sure as hell don’t want to be celebrating his today.

I walk into the venue, which has been decorated with gold and black accents in every single corner, preparing myself to get into business mode.

“Let the countdown begin,” I mumble to myself, working my way through the crowd to find my mother.

It’s a much edgier venue than I would have expected my parents to book, though you can barely tell through the elegant decorations masking its true form.

They sure have a knack for covering up the true potential of things by drowning it in their own…

vision . There are small bar tables spread around the room for people to stand at, stark white couches placed around the room for people to sit on, and the upstairs loft area looks to have a mix of the same couches as well as a few small tables.

The loft is also where I spot the open bar, so I make a note to head there after speaking with my parents.

“Fitz!” Speak of the devil.

“Happy birthday,” I tell my father with a forced smile.

“Oh, it’s really just another day, you know?” He laughs and I clench my jaw.

“Where’s Mom?”

He looks over his shoulder and shrugs. “I’m not sure, why?”

I frown at him. “She said that I needed to come alone because we had a family matter to discuss.”

He clears his throat, shoving the hand not holding his drink into his front pocket. “Oh, yes. Of course.”

The look on his face tells me everything I need to know. “There’s no matter to be discussed, is there?” His mouth pops open, and for the first time in my life, I’m curious what he has to say for himself. Before I can find out, my mother waltzes over with a few familiar faces.

“Oh! Wonderful, you’re both here!” She turns and waves someone over, but I continue glaring at my father, who is strategically avoiding eye contact with me. “Look who I found!” I look over and have to keep myself from audibly grunting.

“Let’s all take a photo.”

I shake my head and go to move, but Mother grabs onto my arm. “No, Mo?—”

“Oh, come on, Fitz. It’s your father’s birthday. We’re making memories!” she insists. I swallow down every emotion trying to surface at her words.

She quickly rearranges people and wouldn’t you know it, Jessica and I are standing dead center with our parents flanking each side of us.

If Jessica were in white it could be a fucking wedding portrait.

She grabs onto my arm and tilts her head to where it almost rests on my shoulder and my whole body tenses.

The camera flashes numerous times, then our parents move and I go to do the same, but Jessica keeps a hold of my arm.

I look down at her to tell her to let go, but she smiles up at me and the camera flashes a few more times.

“I think we’re done here,” I tell the photographer. He nods and heads in the opposite direction. Then I look back down at Jessica. “As are we.” She frowns, but I pull my arm away and head straight for the open bar, not caring what has her pouting tonight.

“Scotch neat.” The bartender pours my drink and I quickly empty the glass.

Tonight is not the night for sipping. I slide it back to him, giving him a nod and he smiles, pouring me another.

“Good man.” I drop a twenty-dollar bill into the tip jar and lean over the railing of the loft overlooking the party happening below.

I can’t believe I actually fell for the reason my mother told me to come alone.

I know my parents never discuss important family business during social events.

That with the fact that the Vanderbilts will always be invited to parties my parents throw, I should have seen right through it.

I pull my phone out and check Lauren’s location, noticing that it’s no longer shared with me and a small panic settles in my chest. I type out a quick text to check on her.

Me

Where are you? Why is your location turned off?

Trouble

I’m out.

Well, that’s vague and only answers one of my questions.

I’m about to follow up with the question she’s clearly avoiding answering when another voice stops me.

“What’s gotten into you, lately?” I close my eyes and take a deep breath, hearing Jessica beside me. I slide my phone back into my pocket, reluctantly deciding I’ll have to deal with Lauren later.

“What do you mean?” I don’t bother looking at her, as I finish the rest of my second scotch. She leans against the railing I’m currently propped up on and tilts her head, trying to get my attention.

“You seem like you don’t even want to be near me. We used to have fun when you’d come into town. At the very least you’d look at me at social events with something other than disdain. What’s changed?” I finally look over at her and her hand rests on my arm.

“A lot has changed. What I don’t understand is why you’re still trying so hard to get my attention when you clearly no longer have it.” She pouts a little, then she smiles.

“Because I know I could get it back if you just gave me a chance.”

I scoff and turn to face the party again. “You’re relentless, aren’t you?”

“You never cared about that before.”

“Well, that was before,” I snap, wishing more than anything that this conversation would end.

“Before what?” She might as well have stomped her foot and huffed with the childish tone she uses with me.

“Before…” I push off the railing, hardly believing my own eyes when I see her .

My little troublemaker.

She looks fucking breathtaking in a floor-length black gown with a slit running dangerously high up her thigh.

Her hair is pulled back with a few pieces hanging down in the front.

There’s only one long sleeve, the other arm completely exposed and she looks so beautiful I wish I could stare at her forever.

“Excuse me,” I mumble to Jessica, pushing past her to rush down the stairs and get to my girl.

I get stopped for a few handshakes and hellos on my way to her and I suddenly wish my family didn’t know so many people.

When I finally see her from behind I smile, despite the fact that she’s talking to Nico Henderson again.

I walk up behind her and slide my hands around her hips, feeling a sting when she slaps them.

She spins around with a scowl on her face that quickly morphs into the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen.

“Fitz!” she exclaims. Then she does something that fucking breaks me and puts me back together all at once.

She throws her arms around my neck, kisses my cheek, and whispers, ‘Happy birthday’ in my ear.

My arms tighten around her and my eyes fall closed, feeling the sting of tears trying to form.

Nico disappeared into the crowd at some point, leaving the two of us alone.

“Thanks, Trouble.” When we finally separate, I get the chance to fully take her in. She looks even better up close. “What are you doing here? I thought you were training Heather this week?”

“I wasn’t going to miss seeing you on your birthday, Fitz.

They can live one day without me.” She shrugs, smirking at me.

There’s a twinkle in her eye tonight that I’m not sure I’ve ever seen before.

She looks like she’s up to something and I’m more than curious to know what it is.

“Oh, excuse me. Could you take a photo for us please?” She stops the same photographer from earlier, handing him her phone from her clutch.

He gives her a confused look, probably wondering why she’s handing a guy with a camera worth thousands in his hands, a phone .

“I’m sure yours is better, but do you mind?

” He lets out a low laugh and agrees, backing up and angling the phone.

She looks up at me, and I smile, taking the lead by wrapping one arm around her waist and holding her hand with my other.

“There you go.” The photographer hands her the phone back and gives me a curious look. Then he shakes his head and walks away.

Weird .

“This is some party, huh?” Lauren looks around the room, prompting me to do the same.

“Yep.”

“It’s a shame they covered up so much of the natural beauty of this place.

I feel like maybe they chose the wrong venue for this particular party.

” I look at her in awe because she just fucking gets it.

“Sorry! That was probably so rude.” Her hand flies to her mouth and her eyes widen, making me smirk.

“I couldn’t agree more. So, what were you and Nico discussing?” I nod in the direction he went.

“Well we hadn’t been talking long, but he did ask me if The Fitzgerald Firm was looking for any brokers to work with.”

“What did you tell him?”

“Nothing. You came up right after he asked so I didn’t get the chance to say anything.”

“Hmm… Go tell him that we are and to send his resume to you.” Her eyes pop and she looks around nervously.

“To me? I can’t do that. I don’t even work for The Fitzgerald Firm.”

“No, but you’re dating the soon-to-be owner, and I trust your judgment.”

“You do?”

I nod and scan the room, seeing Nico by the open bar upstairs. “He’s at the bar. Go grab yourself a drink. One drink, and let him know.”

“Why did you put emphasis on how many drinks I can get?” She glares at me and I raise a brow at her.

“Maybe I want to see if you’ll obey.” I watch her face closely as her eyes grow wild. I lean in closer, pressing my lips to her ear. “Because I’m taking you home sober tonight, Trouble. That’s why.” She tips her head up to look at me, grabbing the lapels of my tux.

“Correction, I’m taking you home tonight, Fitzgerald.” She winks at me and I realize that’s the first time I haven’t minded her calling me by my last name. Simply because of the anticipation I feel from her words.

“Make it a quick conversation.” I practically growl in her ear, kissing her nose before she makes her way upstairs. I watch her as she goes, admiring the way that dress shows off every curve that I can’t wait to get my hands on later.

“I told you to come alone.” I turn around and see my mother looking at me in disapproval.

“Hello, Mother.”

“You couldn’t follow one simple instruction? I told you?—”

“You told me that we had a family matter to be discussed. Which, after speaking with Dad, I realized was a lie. And I did come alone. Not because you told me to, but because Lauren had to work this week and thought she couldn’t get away.”

She scoffs and folds her arms over her chest. “So then why is she here? ” I look up to the loft, seeing Lauren’s eyes land on mine at the same time. She smiles and winks at me, then goes back to chatting with Nico.

“Because she didn’t want to miss seeing me on my birthday.

” My voice is low, mostly because I still can’t believe that’s the reason she came.

I glare over at my mother, seeing the uncomfortable, almost sad look on her face.

“Enjoy the party, Mother. I’m taking my girl home.

” I leave her standing there, heading upstairs to grab Lauren, but when I see her handing Nico her card, I choose to stay away until she finishes her conversation.

She smiles and excuses herself, walking straight over to me.

“Hey, you okay?” Her face is full of concern as she sets her glass on a nearby table.

“Why do you ask?”

“You just seem…off.”

Oh, I am. More than she could possibly know .

I deflect answering by asking my own question. “Why did you say you would be the one taking me home?”

Her face is immediately full of mischief. “It’s a surprise.”

“Let’s go.” I nod towards the stairs and she walks in front of me, then stops and reaches for my hand.

I don’t think she’ll ever understand how something as simple as holding her hand makes everything else feel right. As we’re on our way out, I hear my name from somewhere behind us, but I don’t bother turning around.

“Fitz!” I glance at Lauren, seeing her look over her shoulder before she turns back to me with a frown.

“Who is that?” she whispers. I keep my eyes forward as I push the exit door open.

“My mother.”