Page 39 of Waiting for Acceptance
CHAPTER 22
FITZ
Being someone’s date to a wedding but notgoingto the wedding together is definitely a first for me. I guess that comes with the territory of being the date of a bridesmaid who had to be at the wedding location the entire day. I pull up to the address Lauren emailed me and pause when I realize it’s a gravel road in the middle of nowhere. Either she organized my death, or I’m extremely overdressed for some backwoods wedding. When I pull around the circle driveway I see that the address on the whitewashed brick house matches the one logged on my GPS so I park my car and make my way around the back.
“Holy shit,” I mumble to myself. The most elegant-looking backyard wedding I’ve ever seen lies in wait along with a party tent just down the hill. I check my watch and see that I have a few minutes to find my seat before the ceremony begins. As soon as I’m settled I feel my phone vibrate in my jacket pocket.
Trouble
Are you here yet?
Me
Have you ever known me not to be punctual?
Trouble
That’s not an answer.
Me
Yes, I’m here.
I don’t see the three little dots appear again so I lock my phone and put it away, just as Tucker and the other guys make their way up front. I catch a less-than-thrilled look from Tank but choose to ignore him until the girls begin walking out a few moments later. The first girl out is the blonde from all of her photos, followed by the dark-haired girl with tattoos, and then the other brown-headed girl with tight curls. When Lauren walks out in a fitted blue dress with a dangerously high slit up the leg I feel my breath halt in my lungs.
Fuck me, she looks sensational.
I can’t take my eyes off her, which makes it easy to notice the way she and another bridesmaid are talking through their teeth to each other. When her eyes land on mine, I give her a wink and she immediately looks away.
“Who gives away this bride to be?”
“Oh, she makes her own choices, her mother and I just support her in them.” The crowd shares a laugh and I find myself smirking at the statement as well. I wonder what that’s like? Having parents that just…supportyou in life? Parents that allow you to make your own decisions, possibly with encouraging guidance, but in the end you’re the one in control of your own life. The couple exchange vows, and all the while I can’t stop watching Lauren. She looks at her friends in adoration, subtly wiping a tear away as Tucker finishes his vows, and it makes me wonder what her soft side looks like.
The ceremony concludes and everyone makes their way to the reception tent while the wedding party takes photos. I’ve been here for an hour and a half and have yet to talk to my date. I’m beginning to wonder why she was so upset about not having a date when she clearly doesn’t seem to have the time for one. Then I hear the DJ announce the couple and the rest of the wedding party walks in with them, smiling and clapping as Tucker dips Taylor in the middle of the dance floor. Finally, Lauren starts walking my way.
“I was beginning to wonder if you invited me here simply to ignore me the whole night.” As I expected, those deep blue eyes roll around, only this time they pop in what looks like fear at the end. I can’t fight the smirk that finds its way to my lips and wouldn’t even if I could. “Remembering what I said about rolling your eyes at me, Sweetheart?”
Her features shift and she squares her shoulders. “No.”
Little liar.
“Sure, you’re not.” She turns away from me to watch her friends share their first dance and crosses her arms over her chest.
“I didn’t invite you here.” I look down at her with a frown. “You said you were beginning to wonder if I invited you here to ignore you. But you invited yourself.” She shrugs.
“Well, don’t make it sound so rude,” I tease, catching a sassy glare from her. “What I did was out of the kindness of my heart.” The sass thickens.
“I believe the words ‘purely selfish reasons’were used? I hardly call that kind.” I step in front of her, obscuring her view of the dance floor.
“Are you going to be trouble for me tonight, Sweetheart?” My tone must rub her the way I hoped it would because she averts her gaze. People begin clapping and I assume the first danceis over. The music grows louder and she finally meets my eye again.
“I’mgoingto get a drink. Excuse me.” I shake my head as she saunters away, her hips swaying with attitude at every step. She stops to give Tucker a hug and they speak briefly before she makes her way over to where all of her friends are gathered near the bar. I’m never uncomfortable at events like this, but my lack of familiarity with this particular one is making me second-guess my brilliance in offering to escort her here tonight. Especially since she’s spent all of five minutes talking to me and has already run off in the opposite direction.
I’m quickly pulled from my thoughts when I feel a light tap on my arm. “Hi there, I’m afraid I don’t recognize you. I’m Marilyn, the mother of the bride.” I give her a smile and set my scotch glass, that might as well be part of my hand at this point, down on the table.
“Hello, Marilyn. We haven’t met before but it’s a pleasure. I’m Fitz, Lauren’s date.” Her eyes widen slightly at the mention of the worddate.
“Oh my, well. I see her good taste expands further than her wardrobe and friends… I hope.” She gives me a knowing look that is both charming and confusing. “You better treat that girl well. I may not share their DNA but all of those girls over there are my babies.” We both look over to see Lauren joining the girls as she continues, “And she’s got a whole lot of people looking out for her.” I feel a nudge on my bicep and see her nod nonchalantly at where the groom and the rest of the pack are looking at us. Unease settles in my chest and I must say, it’s a feeling I’m not too fond of.
