Page 48 of Waiting for Acceptance (Nashville Nights #5)
FITZ
I can’t remember a time I’ve ever gone out for a drink in something other than a suit and discussed something other than business, golfing, or someone’s mistress.
Going out for drinks in my world is always business or scandal related and I hate it with every fiber of my being.
I pull up to Chattahoochies and lock up the Rover, sliding my keys into the front pocket of my jeans, shaking off any nerves I may have about this actually being an ambush by Lauren’s friends.
I must say, I much prefer the jeans, sneakers, and plain white T-shirt I have on for a night out than the suit I’m usually wearing when I grab a drink after work.
I see the guys standing at the bar, laughing about something, as soon as I walk in the door. They turn to face me as soon as it closes behind me and I’m surprised to see some of them actually smiling.
“Lucy! Get the hell over here.” Well, guess I’m stuck with that name forever now.
“How’s it going man?” Tucker holds his fist out and I bump it, nodding at Sawyer as I do.
“Can’t complain.” I slide onto a barstool and Max pulls out a glass, pouring me a scotch.
It’s awkwardly quiet for a minute then Tucker breaks the silence, picking up in the middle of a conversation I was clearly not a part of.
“So how is this going to work anyway? We can’t do teams if there’s five of us.”
“Matty is going to meet us there. I realized our dilemma about half an hour ago and figured I’d invite him too.” Sawyer chimes in, setting his beer bottle down on the bar.
“Smart.” Tucker snaps and points at him.
“Umm. What’s happening?” I frown and see Tank smile, which is unnerving.
“Paintball.”
“Ah,” I say, finishing off my drink.
“Don’t be too nervous, city boy. We’ll take it easy on you.” I take the jab quietly and smirk. After all, the result of our little sparring match probably has him thinking he’s got me all figured out.
“I appreciate it, but I think I can handle myself.”
“Let’s get going then,” Max says, clapping his hands together.
“You can ride with us. They’re taking the bikes.” Tank nods towards Max and Tucker, who are heading out the back, as Sawyer walks towards the front exit.
“Cool.”
Tank comes in hot with directions, “Okay, so we’re doing this in teams. Sawyer and Matty with me, Lucy, you’re with Tucker and Max.” Why am I not surprised?
“Sounds good.”
“We got you, Rookie. If there’s anyone you want covering your six, it’s us.” Tucker slaps me on the ass, taking me completely by surprise. “Let’s do this.”
“If he doesn’t shoot you for that shit, I will,” Max mumbles to Tucker, but I manage to hear it and have to stifle my laugh.
Halfway through our time in the field, someone yells, “Every man for himself.” Splitting our teams up.
I shake my head with a laugh. Why does this feel like some sort of hazing, or initiation of sorts?
I get a hit on Tucker first, then Max, I make it a point to take a few shots on Tank when I spot him—just to make sure I didn’t miss—then get Matty and Sawyer last. When the game ends my shirt is completely covered in paint, but so is everyone else’s.
“Dude, where the hell did you learn to shoot like that?” Tucker asks me as we’re turning our gear back in.
“I spent a lot of time hunting with my grandpa when I was younger.”
“Holy hell. Color me impressed.” He gives me a pat on the back, and we return to the rest of the group. “Spurs?” He looks around the group, and everyone mumbles their agreement.
I recognize the name. Lauren likes their food during her…less healthy weeks.
When I slide into the back seat of Tank’s truck, I see him glance at me through the mirror. “What?”
“Nothing.” He starts the truck, looking straight out the windshield as we wait for Sawyer to finish talking to Matty outside.
“You don’t like me.” He grumbles in response, and his eyes cut over to mine. “Look, our girls are best friends, apparently, so why don’t we just address this now? That way Lauren doesn’t have to freak out every time we’re supposed to hang out together.”
“Why was she freaking out?” He frowns, and it’s then I see the genuine worry in his eyes.
“I don’t know man, you tell me. She was clearly worried about us all hanging out, but out of all the guys here, you’re the only one who doesn’t seem happy about it. So do you mind filling in the blanks?” His jaw hardens and he shakes his head.
“Lauren is like family to me. I don’t care much for people who hurt my family, and I don’t know you all that well yet. Meaning I’m not so sure you won’t hurt her again.”
“Again?” I cut him off, confused by what he means.
He sighs, shifting the conversation. “Look, you don’t have to worry about me, and neither does Lauren. You and I can be friendly, and everyone can play nice, but I believe that trust and respect are things to be earned, not expected.”
“I agree, no one should blindly do either of those things if it hasn’t been earned, but what do you mean by hurt her again ? When have I hurt her?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t feel like the details are mine to discuss.”
The fuck?
“Then I’ll talk to her about it.”
“Good.” His tone is clipped, like he doesn’t want to discuss this any further.
“But let’s get one thing straight.” His eyes meet mine through the mirror we’ve been communicating through.
“I would never intentionally hurt her. And I plan to apologize my ass off for whatever I did in the past to hurt her, if necessary. I’m crazy about her.
So much so I’m actually scared to tell her for fear of running her off.
” I see him smirk, exhaling in a way that could be interpreted as a laugh, causing me to relax a little bit.
“Good. Then you and I shouldn’t have any problems. Sorry, for the hazing,” he mumbles the last part as he turns the volume up on his radio and I laugh.
“Sorry about that. Let’s go, I’m fucking starving.” Sawyer climbs in and slams the door shut.
“Yes, dear,” Tank jokes, and while the two of them go back and forth talking about god only knows what, all I can think is…what did I do to hurt Lauren?
“Max? Is that you guys?” I hear a voice call from somewhere in the house. I look over and see him smile, then a second later tiny little footsteps come barreling down the hall.
“DADDY!” Max scoops up the little blonde-headed girl with a big ass grin on his face.
“Hey, my little sunshine.”
“I’m still a little salty that she took my nickname.” A grown-up version of the little girl rounds the corner, smiling up at Max before tucking herself beneath his arm.
“You know you’re my Sunshine, first and forever.” I look over at the little girl, who has her head bashfully resting on Max’s shoulder and smiles. She buries her face in her hands and her mom laughs.
“You two, get a room.” Tucker groans dramatically, hugging the woman. Then he growls like an animal and takes the little girl out of Max’s arms.
“How’s my favorite little monster doing?” He tickles up and down her back, making her giggle before disappearing further into the house.
“You must be Fitz, I’m Shane, Max’s wife. It’s nice to officially meet you.” She smiles, extending her hand, and I quickly understand where her nickname stems from.
I smile, shaking her hand. “Pleasure to meet you.”
“Lauren and the other girls are in the kitchen stuffing their faces with chips and queso, you’re welcome to some if there’s any left.” She laughs.
“Thanks.” I walk in the same direction Tucker went, finding the kitchen full of laughter and baby giggles. There’s another little boy hanging on Tank’s arm like a spider monkey, and a baby sitting in the lap of who I recall to be Ruby, Tank’s wife.
“Get in here, Lucy. Make yourself at home.” Tank’s overzealous welcome makes me want to roll my eyes. The other dark-haired woman slaps his arm, and Lauren turns around with a frown on her face, then smiles when she sees me, waving me over to her.
“Fitz, this is Ruby, Taylor, and Leah.”
“Hi,” they all basically say in unison.
“Tucker is holding Cece, Max and Shane’s baby girl. That little guy there is Poe, Tank and Ruby’s youngest son, and this is Hendrix, their oldest.”
“Nice to finally meet everyone.” I nod, catching a glare from Hendrix.
“How do you know Aunt Lauren?” Hendrix asks.
“She and I work together and we’re uh…dating.” I look at Lauren and see her grinning, seeing how uncomfortable I am trying to answer that question with a child.
“Dad, is that the bastard from Aunt Lauren’s work that made her cry?” My eyebrows jump to my hair and the room falls silent. Not even the kids are making noise, which just makes it more dramatic.
“Hendrix!” Ruby scolds him, as Tank wraps his arm around Hendrix to cover his mouth with his hand.
“Son, we’re gonna go learn how to whisper, okay?” Tank drags Hendrix with him into the other room, and I stand there, not knowing what the fuck to do or say after that.
“I am so sorry about him, he’s always been one to just say what’s on his mind. He comes by it honestly, between me and his dad, I’m afraid.” She raises her eyebrows at Lauren and takes a sip of her drink.
“No, I understand. What’s that saying? If you want an honest opinion, just ask a child?” Ruby laughs, giving me a grateful glance, but when I look back down at Lauren, her smile has left.
“Did you um… Are you ready to go?” she whispers, looking at me for confirmation.
“Why don’t we stay? I’d really like to get to know your friends a little better.”
Her face lights up. “Really?”
“Of course.” I smile at her, looking around the room to see that everyone has made themselves busy again. “But, uh…can I talk to you outside really quick?” She nods and stands up, telling the girls around the table that we’ll be right back.
“We have cameras outside!” Shane yells, making Lauren’s eyes widen at her. The girls are all giggling and Shane shrugs. “Do with that what you will.” Lauren rolls her eyes and we walk through the backdoor.