Page 14 of Waiting for Acceptance
“Well, I would love to argue with you, for the sake of humility, but I’m afraid I have to agree this time.” She tosses some of her long blonde hair over her shoulder and sighs.
“We should get together sometime this week. Since you’re here andhopefullynot working during the holidays.”
“For coffee?” I quirk a brow at her as I bring my coffee cup to my lips.
“No, silly. For dinner. I’m sure I could spare some time to let you take me out.” I’ve known Jessica for a long time, and while she’s not someone I’d ever, as my mother put it,settle down with, she would be an excellent distraction for me while I’m stuck with my parents this week, as she’s done for me plenty of times in the past.
I’m sure they would love nothing more than for me to end up with someone like Jessica—well, not just someonelikeher. Her, specifically. The Vanderbilts are known internationally for their hotel enterprise, and while I am in no way interested in anything more than an excuse to get out from under my parent’s thumb this week, she doesn’t need to know that.
“How’s the day after tomorrow?” Ialmostfeel bad at the way she lights up.
“You know where to find me. I’ll be ready at seven.” She leans across the table and kisses my cheek before wiggling her fingers to tell me goodbye.
“Merry Christmas, Son.” I nod to my father as he hands me an envelope with a smug wink. I already know it’s some kind of check or savings bond, seeing as how the man literally only cares about money. I rip it open and look inside—a check for ten thousand dollars sits inside.Jesus Christ.
“Thank you, Sir.” He slaps me on the back with a huge grin, which is his version of affection. He always assumes everyone shares his love of money, not knowing this check will be donated amongst the charities I give to that he doesn’t know about. He would probably turn into a human volcano if he knew I gave money away the way I do. When he bothers asking what I’ve done with the money, I always tell him I’ve invested it in stocks—which sometimes I do, I am a businessman after all—-but I also care about the needs of others, a trait I didnotinherit from him, so I like to give back to the community.
“Weston, you’re next.” My mother hands my father his gift from her. He opens up a new pair of diamond cufflinks andI fight the urge to roll my eyes. The man has more pairs of overpriced cufflinks than any one man ever should own.
“Lena, you did excellent, dear.” I see my mother light up and then she passes him the gift I got him when we went out shopping.
“Oh, wow.” His brows jump to his hairline when he looks at the designer loafers I got him. I was stuck between those and a briefcase, but figured since he won’t be needing one for much longer, shoes were a better option. “These are nice, Son. Thank you.” I pause at his words, then offer him a smile in return. I think that’s the first time my father has ever thanked me for something.
I don’t think I like it.
Once we finally finish opening presents, I manage to escape my parent’s house and head home. In times like this I wish I’d bothered making friends so I would have someone to call and grab a drink with, instead of drinking alone while watching sports highlights.
CHAPTER 8
LAUREN
If I could just skip from the moment Christmas Eve eve ends and go straight to New Year’s Day, I would. Christmas at the Long’s is absolutely exhausting—loud, boisterous guests filling every corner of my childhood home and gifts that only prove further how little my parents know me. They buy for the daughter theywishthey had, not the one theyactuallyhave. I always show my gratitude for them, though, because if there’s one thing my parents and I do agree on, it’s the need to exchange a gift that doesn’t fit quite right. Only, in my case, it’s not so much that it doesn’t fit my body as it doesn’t fit my taste.
Christmas EveEve, however, is my favorite tradition and theonlything that keeps me from hating the holidays. My girls have always been that for me. The ones that keep me grounded and show me the light when I feel like I’m sitting in a shadow cast by the person I constantly think I should be.
We started the tradition in middle school, themed footie pajamas were mandatory then and still are now. We all got to pick our favorite Christmas movie, which to no one’s surprise we all had the same favorite, and we would all bring our favorite snacks. We still do all of that, only now we get to indulge inShane’s famous margaritas and we always try out a new mixed drink to see if we find a new favorite.
So far, nothing beats Shane’s margaritas.
I’m sitting in bed, scrolling through the post I made last night while still half sober and I can’t help but smile. If I could just live in the highlight reel that is my social media page, I would. There are so many pictures, even a few blurry ones that actually came out kind of aesthetically pleasing, of us laughing and clinking our glasses together and my favorite one—all of us asleep together on the couch whileThe Grinchplays in the background. I assume Tucker took the photo since he was the only other one in the house besides those of us asleep in the picture.
That tradition is one of the things that’s stayed consistent while so much else in our lives continues to change. I’ve had a front-row seat to three-fourths of my friends falling in love, and watching their lives transform in every way imaginable. Career changes, building homes together, and growing their families. I simply couldn’t be happier for them, even if I have to consciously fight to keep myself from going down the ‘what am I doing wrong’spiral.
I’ll never be the one to say that a woman needs a man in her life to feel complete, be happy, or fulfill her purpose. All I’m saying is—Iwanta man in my life. Not just any man though. I want the kind of love I get to witness at every group outing with my friends. Every time I see posts on social media, or when one of the guys walks through the kitchen during girls' nights and can’t help but smile when they look at their wife or fiancée. The way they protect them, love them and stand up for them all while letting them be completely and totally themselves. I want a man so nauseatingly in love with me that he can’t imagine a life without me.
Ugh. There it is.
The one thing I’m constantly reminded I don’t have is the thing I secretly crave the most.
Ruby
Cool if we grill out tonight? We didn’t discuss food during all of the firework talk for tonight.
Me
Omg yesss. Would kill for a hot dog right now.
Ruby
