Page 6 of Waiting for Acceptance
“You ain’t stealing shit, I’m watching with y’all.” My mouth pops open and I look over at Ruby.
“Guilty pleasure of his. Get changed, we’ll wait for you.” I rush into the bathroom, already feeling lighter than I did when I left my parent’s house. I don’t know a lot, but I do know one thing for sure—I wouldn’t have made it this far in life without my girls.
And their husbands I guess.
CHAPTER 2
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 asmall 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 thatgorgeousblue 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 pourorabsorb 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 whathethought was a date—it wasn’t—but itwaswhat helped him finally come out to me. We talked for hoursafter leaving Topgolf that night and we’ve been super close ever since. He and his boyfriend, Reggie, are one of thefourhappiest 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.
“Notthat. 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 thewe’re in trouble with the bosslook 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 hishead 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.
