Page 29 of Waiting for Acceptance
“Not entirely sure, but I heard he’s looking to buy a house and I told him I knew just the guy to make it happen.” He smiles at me and I can’t help but laugh.
“Frank, you’re awesome.” I see a light in his eyes and he nods before beginning to lead the way again.
“Glad to know you’re still into baseball,” I scoff and rear my head back.
“One does not simplystopbeing into baseball, Frank.” Once I see Clay a few tables ahead I clear my throat and put my professionalism back in place. No matter how shocked I am that I may be the one helping a Yankees pitcher find a new house, I have to act like I would with any other client.
“Clay, this is Fitz. Fitz, this is Clay Holmes.” Frank introduces us and I extend my hand to him.
“Great to meet you, man. I hear you’re the man I want on the job when looking for a house?” Clay shakes my hand and smiles and I laugh off the praise Frank must have been singing for me.
“I do my best. What are you looking for?” We chat for nearly twenty minutes about what he’s looking for and then exchange contact info so I can send him the listings I find that I think will interest him.
“Thanks, man. I really appreciate you taking on the job.” Clay smiles, offering me his hand again.
I shake it and shrug. “It’s what I do.”
He laughs and nods his understanding just as Jessica strolls up beside me. “There you are.”
I catch myself just before my eyes begin to roll and force a smile instead. “Here I am.”
Un. Fucking. Fortunately.
“You ready to go?” My brows pull together briefly before I catch myself and smooth my features. Why is she acting like we’re leaving together? And why is she interrupting my conversation without so much as introducing herself. I’m only here with her to present myselfbetterand she’s being rude as hell right now. I’ve got to get out of here.Alone.
I turn to Clay with a fake smile on my face. “Well, I guess I’m leaving now. Give me a call when you’re ready to get things moving.”
“Literally, right?” Clay laughs, holding up my business card as he backs away from the table. Once he’s moved on to another conversation, well out of earshot, I level Jessica with a stare.
“What the hell was that?” I bite out, grabbing her arm and pulling her to the side of the room.
“I just thought since we talked to everyone we needed to, we could get out of here. Maybe grab a drink and then…” Her hands run over the lapels of my jacket in a much too seductive way to be standing in a room full of my peers. My hands shoot up and grab her wrists, stopping her as she lets out a small gasp.
“I was in the middle of a very important conversation, which you not only interrupted, but you also made no effort to introduce yourself or apologize to the person I was speaking to.” Her lips turn down into a pout.
“What? The baseball guy? He wasn’t on the list.”
“For fuck’s sake,” I mumble to myself. I grip her hands tighter to ensure I have her attention, though to any watchful eye, it may look endearing. “You say this doesn’t have to be apart,but you have no idea how to interact with people in a realway. You don’t bother speaking to people who aren’t labeled as important and are oblivious to simple conversational manners. What on earth makes you think I would ever want to settle down with someone as spoiled and entitled as you?” She pulls her hands away from me with a huff.
“Says the guy in a seven thousand dollar suit that’s next in line to inherit a real estate empire.” I don’t even like this suit. Though, that doesn’t change the fact that she’sright, and I think I hate that even more than this suit. “Are we leaving or what?” She crosses her arms over her chest with a pout.
Unbelievable.
CHAPTER 16
LAUREN
“Okay. I have to tell you guys something.” I crack my front door open just enough to see my four best friends standing outside waiting to be let in. There’s a mix of terror and confusion on all of their faces.
“Something you can’t tell us in the warmth of your home? Possibly with a drink in my hand?” Leah shifts on her feet, fighting the cool night air.
“I just know you’re going to have a lot of questions and I wanted to get it out there first thing.”
“Mhm. Yeah, sure. Hurry the hell up, I can't feel my toes.” Taylor nods her head, urging me to get on with it.
“I got a cat.” They all stop moving and almost comically all look at me with the same expression. “Say something.”
More silence.
