Page 61 of Waiting for Acceptance (Nashville Nights #5)

LAUREN

I’m convinced that this will forever be my new favorite moment.

I’ve had a lot of memorable ones in life, but none of my favorite ones have ever involved something directly happening to me .

Most of the best moments in my life were me being happy about things happening to my friends—my self-proclaimed sisters.

But this moment? This one's for me and Fitz.

We lay under the giant oak tree, staring at the initials Fitz carved into it, LL + VF with a heart surrounding them, while he holds me close to his chest. I can hear his heart beating wildly and it makes me giggle.

“I would have thought your heart rate would have slowed down by now, but it sounds like a rabbit thumping his foot against my ear.” I look up and see him smile down at me, my own heart picking up speed at the sight.

“Well, I’m a little anxious I’ll wake up and this will all have been a dream. I’m just holding on for as long as I can.” I sit up on my elbow to face him, running my fingers gently along his cheekbone.

“You can hold me as tight as you need to, but even if you let go, I’ll still be right here.

” He wraps his hand around the back of my neck, pulling me down to kiss me.

The leaves rustle from the summer breeze blowing through, making this moment even more perfect than it already was.

We stay out here a while, silently enjoying the moment— our moment.

Shadow Hill Ranch might just go down as my favorite place in the world—especially if I’m here in the arms of the man who gave me the one thing I was always so scared to want. The nauseating kind of love.

“So…is this why your only tattoo is a bull?” I ask, making his chest shake with laughter.

“Yeah. This would be why.” I nod my understanding, then he sits up, pulling me with him, and turns me to face him.

“You finally going to tell me about why you memorized every state bird and flower?”

My mouth pops open to argue but I see the look in his eye and I know I won’t win this one, no matter how hard I try.

I let out a defeated sigh. “Someone in my class called me dumb. I foolishly believed them and wanted to learn something no one in our grade had learned yet. So, I memorized the state birds and flowers. At the time it felt like very powerful information.”

I expect him to laugh, but the frown on his face is serious. “Who called you dumb? I’ll kick their ass.”

I have to think of the name for a minute before I can recall it. “Leslie Winkleman.”

“Oh. Well…never mind. You’re absolutely brilliant, Trouble. I’m sure you always have been.” He kisses my nose and I smile. “List all the state birds, right now.” I laugh at his demand and shake my head.

“No!” I giggle, pushing him back down to lay my head on his chest again.

I pull my phone out and take a photo of the tree from my point of view, full green branches with the tiniest bits of sunlight shining through the leaves, posting it to my story, tagging Fitz and our location before sliding it back into my pocket.

“You ready to head back to the house?” Fitz continues playing with my hair, and I’m sure if we stayed here five more minutes, I would fall asleep in the grass with him.

“Would you judge me if I said no?” I feel his chest jump with a laugh.

“Not at all, Trouble. If I’m being honest, I don’t want to go, either.” He kisses the top of my head. “However, I do want Gran and Pops to get to know you and spend as much time with you as possible before we head back into the city tomorrow.” I look up at him and frown.

“I didn’t know we were going back to the city.” He sighs and readjusts his head on the arm he’s been lying on.

“I have been hoping to find a way out of it, but seeing as how my work is directly related to my father, I don’t see me using work as an excuse.”

“Get out of what?”

“My mother’s birthday party.”

“Wow. You guys have birthdays really close together.” His expression is blank as he stares across the fields.

“You know, I’ve only picked up on bits and pieces of what your relationship with your parents is like.

Since I understand complicated parental relationships I never wanted to pry, but I can tell there’s tension there.

What happened? I mean, I know a little bit about what happened with your dad, with him not letting you choose what to do in life and all, but what about your mom? ”

“My mother just goes along with whatever my father says, always has. When he suggested I live here with Gran and Pops until I was ready to start learning the family business, I could tell she was upset to see me go, but she also seemed…excited? Which just fucking hurt, you know? What mother doesn’t want to raise her own child?

I never really got to have a relationship with either of them, and I think I’ve resented them both for it ever since.

When I came to New York last Christmas, she suggested we go shopping together, which was weird, but…

I guess the little boy in me wanted so badly for the facade she was putting on to be real, that I allowed myself to lower one of my walls.

Only to find out it was a plan made up by my father to convince me to settle down. ”

“Wow.”

“I never understood why she wouldn’t fight for me to stay with them.

Why she didn’t want me around, why she didn’t visit me more.

Then one day, I eventually stopped caring.

I realized I had the best people in the world raising me.

They loved me and taught me all of the lessons in life worth learning.

They taught me how to be a hard worker, how to be kind, and how to take care of not only myself, but others as well.

I wouldn’t change the way I was raised, I just sometimes wish…

” He trails off and I sit up to face him.

“Sometimes you just wish your parents were different.”

He scoffs, a small smile playing on his lips. “Look at us, two peas in a pod.”

I snort. “A trauma pod.”

He laughs out loud, making me smile. “Oh, my god. That’s a horrible way to put it.”

“It’s also very accurate. And when have I ever been one to sugarcoat things?”

“Literally never,” he answers a bit too quickly. I glare at him and he sits up, our noses brushing against each other when he leans forward. “And I love that about you the most. What do you say, Trouble, be my girlfriend? For real this time.” I roll my eyes and he gives me a warning look.

“Yeah, I guess.”

“You guess ?” He grabs me around my waist and rolls us over to pin me to the ground. “Do I need to help you find a more convincing answer?”

“And how exactly would you do that?” I challenge him and he grins.

“I can think of a few ways I’ve made you scream the word yes before.” I bite my lip, trying to hide my smile. “Shall I try them again?” he practically growls above me, and I simply can’t help myself. I shrug, my expression full of indifference.

“Yeah, I guess.”

“You little brat.” His smile is devilish when he buries his face into my neck, proving me right when his methods work. I enthusiastically agree to be his girlfriend beneath the giant oak tree, before he takes us back to his grandparent’s house for a shower before dinner.

“Gran, no one makes homemade ice cream like you.” Fitz practically licked his bowl clean, after having his apple pie and homemade ice cream, and I honestly can’t blame him.

Everything she made today was to die for.

I wish I could stay here for a week or a month, or however long it would take for her to teach me everything she knows in the kitchen.

“He’s right, everything was delicious,” I agree. Gran waves a hand dismissively.

“Oh, please. You’re the one who made the pie, dear.” She smiles at me and Fitz grabs my hand, kissing the back of it.

“That’s right! The apple pie was perfect, Trouble. You did good.” I don’t understand why, but every time Fitz tells me I’ve done something well, my stomach and my vagina take turns fluttering.

“Sorry to interrupt—” Someone comes walking through the back door, stopping when we all turn at the table to face him.

“Lochlan, we didn’t know you were still here. You should have come in for supper,” Gran scolds him in the most loving way.

“I uh—” His dark eyes stay on me, and I suddenly wonder if I have food on my face.

“Stop looking at her like that, Lochlan. She’s mine.” Lochlan shakes his head and laughs nervously.

“Sorry. No, I just… You’ve never brought a girl home, so I was just surprised.”

“As were we all,” Gran agrees with a smile on her face.

“Was something wrong, Boy?” Pops asks, shifting the conversation back to why he came inside to begin with.

“Oh, right. Mabel is about to have the calf. You said to let you know before she did but if Vincent is here…” I look at Fitz in surprise when he tosses his napkin on the table.

“Are you…are you going to help a cow have a baby?” My eyes pop and he laughs.

“Don’t wait up.” He winks at me, then he and Pops rush out the backdoor with Lochlan. My mouth is hanging open when I turn back to face Gran.

“You want to go too, don’t you?” Gran observes as I look back out the door.

“Yeah, I kind of do,” I admit shyly.

“Well, if I know Mabel, she’ll still be a bit before that calf is coming.

Why don’t you and I get things cleaned up in here together and put on a pot of coffee.

I hear we don’t get you for much longer.

” We begin moving around the kitchen table, clearing plates, and washing dishes as she puts the small amount of leftovers in the fridge.

“That’s what I hear, too. He just told me today we have to get into the city for his mother’s birthday tomorrow.”

“Mmm. Have you met them yet?” Gran asks, still moving effortlessly around the small space.

“Briefly. I’ve only spoken to his father a couple of times, not enough to really get to know them.” I finish drying our dinner plates and hand them to her. “Do you mind my asking, which one of them is yours?” A sadness fills her eyes as she pauses her movements briefly.

“Lena.”

“Oh.” Is all I can manage to say.

Then she shakes it off and continues her task.

“As much as I hate to say it, I know they’re hard people to get along with.

Lena wanted nothing more than to get away from the ranch from the moment she was sixteen years old.

Always said she wanted more out of life.

When what she really wanted, but wouldn’t say, was to marry rich and not have to lift a finger like we made her do around here.

It broke my heart the day she left, but she got what she wanted.

” She lets out a sigh, then turns to face me, placing her hand on mine. “Do me a favor, if you don’t mind.”

“Anything.”

“Don’t judge Vincent any differently when you really get to know them.”

I smile at her reassuringly. “You don’t have to worry about that, Gran. If we judged each other based on the way our parents behaved, he would have left on two wheels after meeting mine.”

Her face turns solemn and she pats my hands. “I’m sorry to hear that, sweetheart.”

“It’s okay. I realized that night that there are people in my life who will accept me exactly as I am, and it was refreshing to know I have the choice to no longer surround myself with the people who won’t. Even if those people are the ones who raised me.”

“Well, I know we’re a bit more than a drive from Nashville, but you will always be welcome and accepted here at the ranch.” She gives me a wink with the sweetest smile on her face.

“Thanks, Gran.” My eyes begin to water, and she pulls me in for a hug.

“After all, any girl Vincent finds important enough to bring home is one I expect to see again.” She gives me a shake and I laugh, feeling more loved than I probably ever have before.

Gran offers to get our coffee poured while I run to the restroom, and when I pull my phone out to set it on the counter, I see my message notifications and decide to open them before I end up forgetting.

Ruby

Tell us about the ranch!

Tay

I’ve only seen tree branches and I already want to visit.

Shane

Not to be the odd one out, but WHY are y'all at a ranch?

Leah

Valid question. I was kind of wondering the same.

Me

He brought me to meet his grandparents.

Ruby

Tell. Us. Everything.

Me

They practically raised him here. They’re cattle ranchers, they have chickens and goats and a greenhouse and everything. He has a horse named Tina, who I rode. He took me to the tree where the ranch gets its name “Shadow Hill Ranch” and he told me that he loves me. sobbing emojis

Tay

AND?!?!?!?!

Ruby

Wtf do you mean AND?! Was that not enough information to have you screaming?!?!

Tay

AND…do you love him too??? smile with tears emoji

Shane

eyes emoji

Leah

eyes emoji eyes emoji

Me

Yeah. I really do.

Tay

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Ruby

There it is.

Ruby

I may or may not be able to see out of my eyeballs. I’m so happy for you.

Shane

“May or may not” is for rookies. I am full on sobbing rn.

Leah

LAUREN IS IN LOVE!?! OH MY GOD, THE STARS HAVE ALIGNED.

I almost sent them the photo I took of mine and Vince’s initials carved into the tree, but at the last second, decided I’ll keep that to myself, just for a little longer at least. I hear the screen door open then slam shut and hurry to finish up so Gran doesn’t think I’ve fallen down the drain. Or worse, that I’m taking a shit.