Page 64 of Waiting for Acceptance (Nashville Nights #5)

FITZ

This weekend has been absolutely life-changing.

I never pictured myself as the guy who would fall in love and settle down, mostly because when my parents began shoving that narrative down my throat all I wanted was the exact opposite of that.

I didn’t want to live my life the way they did.

I didn’t want someone in my life who would have to suffer through me becoming exactly like my father, but I also never met someone who made me want to settle down.

Someone who reminds me I’m nothing like the man I feared I’d become.

Someone who makes me want to be better. Running the family business as a bachelor always seemed like the perfect fit for me. Until I met Lauren.

Now I don’t see my future without her in it.

No matter what I do, in any scenario I can think of, she’s always by my side.

Running a real estate empire in New York?

She’s there. Helping deliver baby cows on the ranch?

She’s there. Thrift shopping in Nashville every weekend?

We’re there together. Whether we travel the world or stay in one place, it never changes.

After the baseball game, we came home and showered then fell asleep until my alarm went off telling us it was time to get ready for my mother’s birthday party, and I had no desire to get up.

I have been absolutely dreading this event, but knowing I’ll have Lauren on my arm and in my ear, is the only thing helping me make it out the door tonight.

“Well well well. Don’t you clean up nice.

” I turn around, immediately wanting to fall on my knees and worship the ground this woman walks on.

She’s wearing a blue long-sleeved party dress with bell sleeves, and the shoes I bought for her today—the same ones I’ve dreamed of seeing her in since the day I first saw them.

Only, I’ve been picturing her in nothing but them.

Her dress stops on her mid-thigh, allowing her tan legs to be on full display like the true work of art that she is.

“How the hell did I get so lucky?” She rolls her eyes at me and I’m tempted to bend her over the kitchen counter before we go, but when I check my watch I see that we don’t have the time.

“You look breathtaking, Sweetheart. Undoubtedly the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

” I hold my hand out and she places her fingers in it, allowing me the chance to bring her hand up and kiss the back of it.

“I guess your charm isn’t so fake after all.” She winks at me and grabs her clutch from the counter. “I wonder if you’ll still be as much of a gentleman when you see what I’m wearing under this dress later.” She pulls me behind her, sending my mind spinning with excitement, as we walk out the door.

My parents have never been the type to do small events, so it’s no surprise that my mother’s 60th birthday party is probably the biggest event I’ve been to this year.

We make our way around the room, and I’m pleasantly surprised by the fact that Lauren manages to keep some kind of contact between the two of us the entire time.

As if she knows the effect she has on me even though I’m almost positive I’ve never told her.

“You have been absolutely amazing tonight, you know that?” I whisper in her ear as we make our way over to one of the open bars in this massive venue.

“What do you mean?” she asks, her hand still wrapped comfortably around my bicep.

“You have no idea the difference your presence at these events has on me. I no longer feel the burning desire to bolt for the door five minutes after being here. Nor does your touch make my skin crawl the way… others used to.” I worry for half a second that she’ll be upset about me mentioning being with other women before her.

Until she laughs so beautifully, the rest of the room fades away.

“Well, with the amount of time I spend touching you, I sure hope you don’t feel that way.” I pull her into me, letting my hands rest comfortably on her ass as I lean in and kiss her. I hear someone clear their throat behind me and look up to see Frank, turning a hilarious shade of red.

“So sorry to interrupt you both, but Fitz, may I have a word with you?” My brows furrow and I look at Lauren.

“You okay on your own for a bit?”

She nods and smiles at Frank, her cheeks also blushing. “Sure. I’ll be around.”

“I won’t be long.” I wink at her and follow Frank to the opposite side of the room, stopping when we reach a sitting area that is mostly vacant. “What’s going on, Frank?”

“Remember that old saying don’t shoot the messenger ?”

What the hell?

LAUREN

I have to say, this event is fancy as hell.

There’s a live band on one end of the room, set up right in front of a dance floor, that you can tell was put in solely for this event.

There are two locations for open bars, several places for people to stand at pub tables, as well as couches in small areas around the back of the room, most of which are empty right now.

“Lauren!” I hear a woman’s voice that I don’t recognize, call from behind me. I spin to face her, wine glass and clutch in my hands, soon realizing it’s Fitz’s mother.

“Mrs. Fitzgerald. Happy birthday.” I smile, hoping I’m not as transparent to her as I am to her son.

“Oh, thank you. This is all just…too much, but West insisted.” I have no idea whether or not to believe her.

Knowing what I do about how desperate she was to get away from the ranch and how desperately she wanted this life, I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s just trying to seem humble when in reality she’s the one who’s planned this whole thing.

Then again, maybe she does feel that way now and this is just her husband’s way of keeping up appearances.

Either way, it’s not my business and I don’t really care to find out.

“Well, I’m sure he means well,” I offer, politely looking for an exit strategy as I take a sip of my wine.

“So are you having a good time?”

“I am, yes.” I nod, and she smiles.

“That’s good.” She leans in closer to me, like we’re two friends sharing secrets and it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

“I am honestly surprised to see you here tonight. Especially after the announcement coming out today.” My stomach twists uncomfortably at her words as she sips her champagne and I stupidly take the bait.

“What announcement?”

She laughs sympathetically. “Oh, dear. Well, it’s no wonder you’re still here.

” I stand frozen, still unsure what she’s talking about, but very sure that I don’t want to see whatever it is.

Apparently, she can’t read my mind though, because she pulls out her phone, clicks two little buttons, and turns the screen in my direction.

There’s an article illuminating much too brightly in my face:

New York power couple, Vanderbilt Hotel heiress, Jessica Vanderbilt, and soon-to-be real estate CEO at The Fitzgerald Firm, Vincent Fitzgerald to announce engagement soon, sources say.

There are multiple photos attached to the article, including a family photo of them with their parents, as well as one of just the two of them that I quickly realize is from the night of Fitz’s birthday.

My face burns with embarrassment, remembering that was the night I showed up to surprise him. Was he there with her ?

I read a little further.

The two have been photographed several times over the last several months, looking mighty cozy during Fitzgerald’s trips back home from managing acquisitions in other states.

Company-wide takeovers seem to call for a little extra love when coming back home, and Vanderbilt clearly has plenty to spare for her hard-working fiancé.

I’m going to throw up.

“This is just gossip.” I try to argue, but then she scrolls down a bit, showing photos of them together in a coffee shop, more from Fitz’s Dad’s party, and another of them kissing on a boat.

I can feel the warmth of the tears in my eyes as I see them together.

Mr. Fitzgerald joins us, and while I think she might change the subject, she doesn’t.

Making this feel like a complete ambush and less like a conversation of happenstance

“When are you going to realize that you don’t belong here, Ms. Long?

My son needs someone who is more compatible with him.

Someone who knows his world, and will be able to help guide him as he runs this empire.

What can a sales agent from some small firm in Tennessee bring to the table for someone like Fitz?

Jessica and Fitz are made for each other.

He’s been with her before, and he’ll realize soon enough she’s exactly what he needs.

Especially when he reads the contract stating the company will go to Frank unless he agrees to the terms of the merger for Vanderbilt Hotels and The Fitzgerald Firm.

A merger that will, in fact, include their nuptials. ”

He’ll lose his right to the company if he stays with me?

“If you truly care about him, surely you wouldn’t allow him to lose everything he’s worked his whole life for. Would you?” I regain my composure and straighten my spine as I look at them both in their smug faces.

“Wow. You both are unbelievably disgusting human beings. You can play mind games with me all you want, but I know Vince better than you think. He is by far the best person I know. He’s hard-working, loyal, kind, and he would never lie to me the way you’re suggesting he would.

Our relationship aside, what kind of parents would manipulate their son this way and watch him give up everything he loves?

Just to become just like the people who shipped him off to be raised by someone else until he was old enough to be groomed into what you wanted him to be.

He is more than capable of running this company with or without a wife, he’ll probably do it better than you, if we’re being honest, yet you still make every effort to tell him what he’s doing wrong, instead of giving him the slightest bit of encouragement for everything he’s done well.

Shame on both of you.” I take a deep breath, seeing his mother turn a deep shade of red, meanwhile, his father just smirks, looking over my shoulder.

I glare at him, then do the thing I shouldn’t do—I turn around.

Just in time to see Jessica Vanderbilt and Fitz making out.

“Excuse me.” I don’t turn back around to face his parents before I slam my glass down on a table, marching towards the table they’re standing at.