Page 71 of Waiting for Acceptance
“Okay, you big softy. We’re going back to girls’ night. Go check on our sons and make sure Hendrix isn’t trying to ride Maverick again.” Ruby slaps Tank’s ass and we stand in the spare bedroom together.
“He means well.” I smile at Ruby, knowing she’s probably worried I thought they were talking behind my back or something. Some might jump to that conclusion, but I know them better than that.
“I know, Rubes. I’m grateful to have you guys looking out for me.” I rest my head on her shoulder and we stay like that a bit longer, before returning to the round table of chaos.
“I can’t believe you told them about Hugh.” Ruby bumps my hip with hers.
“It was time. I can’t believeyoualmost didn’t hold it together. They’d kill you if they found out you knew and didn’t say anything.”
She shrugs. “Hey, it wasn’t my business when I walked in on you guys at the hotel, and it wasn’t my business after.”
Ruby Landry, the very definition of a ride or die.
CHAPTER 38
FITZ
It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours since I left Lauren’s house and told her I would give her some space, and I’m already going crazy without her. I’ve done nothing but replay her telling me she wanted me while remembering the way it felt to finally make her come again. To taste her again. So why the hell has she not texted me once since I left her house that day? Did she just need to get me out of her system? I sure the hell hope not, because I’m almost positive she’ll never be out of mine. This is going to be the longest Sunday night of my life. I flip through the channels, stopping on some late-night show before pulling a pillow over my head to try and force myself to sleep.
I slept like absolute shit last night.
I tossed and turned all night, checking the time every hour on the hour, until I finally deemed it appropriate to get up at 5 o’clock to go for a run. I pushed myself harder today than I have in months, which felt great—even if it’s directly related tothe fact that I have so much built-up tension I can hardly see straight. By the time I got home and showered, the coffee shop Lauren frequents, and by frequents I mean she might as well live there, was open and I went to grab her favorite drink. Knowing the day is eventually going to catch up to me, I grab a double espresso for myself, before heading to the office.
“Morning, Fitz! Welcome back.” Amy smiles at me from her place behind the front desk.
“Good morning, Amy. Good to be back.” I give her a polite smile and head straight to Lauren’s office, my shoulders dropping a bit when I see she isn’t in it. I look around and notice her bag is sitting in its usual place beneath her desk, and frown.
Where are you, Trouble?
I hear her laugh almost immediately, and when I turn around I see her leaning against the desk in Marcus’s office. I’dhateto be rude and interrupt them, so I go into Lauren’s office, set her coffee in the center of her desk, and walk over to lean on the small table against the left wall to wait for her.
“You’re terrible,” she laughs again, her voice floating closer to her office. “Don’t you go getting me in trouble, now.”
I’m going to punch him in the teeth for making her giggle like that.
She walks into her office, making it only a few steps before she stops, seeing the coffee on her desk, and frowns.
“Morning, Trouble.” She jumps back, sucking in a breath as her hand shoots up to her chest.
“Jesus, Fitz. You scared the hell out of me. What are you doing in here?”
“Waiting for you to finish your riveting conversation with Marcus.” Sarcasm drips from my tone, causing her to shake her head as she walks to her desk.
“In the corner like a poorly trained stalker?” I smirk and walk over to close her door, not missing the ways her eyes settle on it before they find mine.
I slide my hands into the pockets of my slacks. “Hear any good jokes lately?”
Her brows pinch together. “What?” She clicks something on her computer before standing upright.
“Something must have been funny to earn a laugh like that from you.” Her eyes roll as she makes her way over to her printer and I move quickly behind her.
“No jokes, but jokes aren’t the only thing that makes me laugh,” she says, popping her hip to the side as she waits for her old-ass printer to get this page out.
“Good to know.” My voice is low and she jumps when she feels my nose brush across her hair. “I’ll get one of those laughs out of you one day, Trouble. But right now I’ll settle for your moans.”
She spins to face me, her ass bumping her printer when she does. I see her swallow as she studies my face. “Fitz?—”
“Do you regret it?” I ask, caressing her cheek with my forefinger.
