Page 107 of Waiting for Acceptance
“Oh, yes! It’s one of, if not the most, prestigious firms in New York,” my mother chirps.
“And growing by leaps and bounds if the articles I’ve seen are correct,” my dad chimes in.
“That they are,” Fitz confirms. My parents' faces light up so much we could practically screw them into the chandelier. “And I’m supposed to take over as CEO next month.”
“Oh, how wonderful.” My mother links her arm through Fitz’s and walks him further into the dining room. “You know, we always encouraged Lauren to do more with herself.”
“It’s true. We could have gotten her to any Ivy League or top school of her choice. She would probably be running my law firm by now had she applied herself. Much like you’ll be taking over for your father. Such an honorable career choice—taking over the family business.” My father cuts his eyes to me before taking a sip of his drink.
“I mean, she had every resource imaginable at her fingertips. She could have done something truly amazing had she just taken what we tried to give her, don’t you agree, Vincent?” She bumps Fitz with her elbow, and I am so close to coming unraveled. Every stitch in the armor I’ve made over the years to deal with my parents, slowly falling apart as they make digs about my life to the one person I’ve ever felt comfortable sharing it with.
“I’m sorry.” Fitz laughs humorlessly. “Is this some kind of joke?” My mother’s face twists and my father tilts his head in confusion. I look up at him, wondering where he’s going with this.
“What do you mean?” Mother asks.
“You daughter is one of the most down-to-earth, capable, kind, and hardest working people I’ve ever met in my life. She could out-sell some of the best agents in New York, myself included, if she so wished because she pours her heart into her work. Hell, she could probably run the damn company if that’s what shewantedto do. I’m proud of her for taking a chance on herself. Have you ever thought, for one moment, she’s doing exactly what she wants to do, and doing itwell? Have you taken even a single second to admire the fact that your daughter is completely self-sufficient? That she didn’tneedan Ivy League school, or your connections and resources, to build an admirable life for herself? Shame on you, shame on both of you, for ever making her feel like she isn’t good enough, simply because she didn’t choose to live her life the wayyouwanted her to.” I’d kiss him right here and now if I could see to get to him.
“How dare you come in here and insult us this way? Who are you to tell us we shouldn’t want more for our daughter? Maybe you’ll understand when you have children one day. When you’re a parent you do whatever it takes to make sure they are doing their best in life?—”
“No. That’s where you’re wrong.” Fitz cuts him off. “I would do whatever it takes to make suremykids knew they were loved, that I was proud of them, and that no matter what they did—skateboard shop owner or CEO of a company—that I was fucking proud of them.”
“Funny to hear you say that when you are who you are—wealthy, well connected, inheriting an entire company. Self-sufficiency and capability will only get her so far in life. A well-established career in something, knowing people who could help her if she ever got in a pinch, these are things that will take her farthest in life. Don’t you dare come in here telling us we’ve done anything less than our best forourdaughter, when you’re being handed exactly the life we tried to give her.”
“Enough!” I yell, pulling everyone’s attention to me. “How dare you speak to Fitz that way?”
“Did you hear the way he spoke to us?” The disbelief on my father’s face is priceless.
“Yes. I heard it. I also heard, for thefirsttime in my life today, that someone was proud of me. I will not let you sit here and speak to him like you know who he is when you have noideawho he is—and you don’t deserve the chance to get to know him the way I do. We’re leaving.” I grab Fitz’s hand and pull him behind me, hoping I can make it to the car before I completely fall apart. I’m in such a hurry to get out of the house that I forget my bag.
“Shit, I forgot my purse.” I turn around to get it, but Fitz’s hands land on my arms and he stops me, holding up my bag in his right hand. I finally bring my eyes to his and I completely lose it. “I am so sorry, Fitz.” He pulls me closer, his hand cradling the back of my head as I bury my face into his chest.
“Shh. Don’t you dare apologize for them.” His grip tightens on me and I let myself fall apart in his arms. I’ve never cried like this in front of anyone, not even my best friends have seen me in pain the way Fitz is right now. “Look at me.” I pull away, blinking past the tears waiting to fall from my eyes, and he gently pushes some hair out of my face. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t know how.” I sigh, running my hands over my cheeks. “I don’t talk about this part of my life. I only see my parents every so often for Friday night dinners, though I’m starting to wonder why I’ve even been doing that. I know they don’t approve of how I live, but I guess I always thought if theysaw how successful, or happy I was that…I don’t know. Maybe they’d realize their way wasn’t the only way.” I meet his gaze again.
“I just hate that you felt like you couldn’t tell me. Of all people, you should have known I would understand.”
“I know. I know, I’m sorry.” I hide my face in my hands, but he pulls them away just as fast.
“Baby, stop apologizing.” He ducks his head to catch my eye.
“I guess I just got scared. I didn’t want you to think differently of me. I’ve separated myself so much from this life that it doesn’t even feel like part of me anymore.”
“I know exactly who you are, Lauren Long. Nothing your parents say or do could convince me that I don’t.” He leans down and kisses me, taking every bit of my anxiety and sadness away with the simple touch of his lips on mine.
Today was the last straw for me. I’m never coming back here. If they want their daughter back, they’re going to have to prove themselves tome, not the other way around. Not anymore.
“Take me home, Fitz. Make me forget about today. Please.”
CHAPTER 54
FITZ
Of all the reasons I imagined Lauren was so nervous about going to her parents house, them being rich assholes who don’t know what an amazing person their daughter is definitely didn’t make the list. I’ve never seen her cry, not like that at least. It makes me want to march back in there and punch her dad in the nose, but instead, I focus on her. The way she stares out the window as I drive her car back to her house, how I hear her sniffle every now and then before trying to hide the fact that she’s still wiping her tears away. I can’t park the car fast enough and pull her door open, scooping her into my arms before she can even put her foot on the ground.
“What are you doing?” There’s no giggle in her tone, or mischief in her eyes. Just a gray version of who she usually is as I approach her front porch.
“Do you trust me?” I ask, placing her feet on the ground and unlocking her door.
