Page 78 of Waiting for Acceptance
“Because she didn’t want to miss seeing me on my birthday.” My voice is low, mostly because I still can’t believe that’s the reason she came. I glare over at my mother, seeing the uncomfortable,almostsad look on her face. “Enjoy the party, Mother. I’m taking my girl home.” I leave her standing there, heading upstairs to grab Lauren, but when I see her handing Nico her card, I choose to stay away until she finishes her conversation. She smiles and excuses herself, walking straight over to me.
“Hey, you okay?” Her face is full of concern as she sets her glass on a nearby table.
“Why do you ask?”
“You just seem…off.”
Oh, I am. More than she could possibly know.
I deflect answering by asking my own question. “Why did you say you would be the one taking me home?”
Her face is immediately full of mischief. “It’s a surprise.”
“Let’s go.” I nod towards the stairs and she walks in front of me, then stops and reaches for my hand.
I don’t think she’ll ever understand how something as simple as holding her hand makes everything else feel right. As we’re on our way out, I hear my name from somewhere behind us, but I don’t bother turning around.
“Fitz!” I glance at Lauren, seeing her look over her shoulder before she turns back to me with a frown.
“Who is that?” she whispers. I keep my eyes forward as I push the exit door open.
“My mother.”
CHAPTER 41
LAUREN
I was so nervous walking into Fitz’s dad’s party, unsure he would be okay with me showing up unannounced, but the response I got when he saw me immediately calmed my nerves. The way he squeezed me a little tighter when I told him happy birthday, and the look on his face when I told him I came just to seehim, made me confident that my decision was the right one. My heart starts racing and the grip my teeth have on the inside of my lip grows tighter the closer our car gets to Fitz’s building. I hope he likes everything.
When we pull up to the front, Fitz slides out first holding out his hand to help me get out behind him. When we walk in the door I spot Ernest in the far corner, locking the storage room door.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell Fitz, running over to where Ernest stands. I tap him on the shoulder and when he turns around his eyebrows raise as he takes in my appearance.
“My goodness. You look beautiful.” His wobbly smile warms my heart.
“You have time for that hug now?” I smile at him and he nods. I wrap my arms around him and his frail hands pat lightlybetween my shoulders. When we pull away he looks behind me, causing my gaze to follow where Fitz stands with his hands tucked into his dress pants.
“That the boss?”
“That’s the boss,” I confirm, turning back around to face Ernest. “Thank you so much for your help earlier.”
“It’s no problem. You seem like a hard-working girl. He better treat you right.” I laugh and he gives me a wink before he slowly makes his way across the room. I join Fitz again and he presses the button on the elevator with a curious look on his face.
“Anything I should be worried about there, Trouble?” I roll my eyes and laugh, stepping inside the elevator with Fitz’s hand on the small of my back.
I turn around to face him. “You’re crazy, you know that?” The doors seal shut and before I know it he’s pushing me against the wall, his hands gripping my waist with need.
“And losing a little more of my sanity every time I’m around you.” My heart begins to race, distant memories of past elevator rides with Fitz dancing through my mind. I open my mouth to say something, anything to cut the tension, when the elevator does it for me.
Ding.
The doors slide open on the eighth floor, and I grab Fitz’s hand, leading him out. We make it to his door, but I stop him before he can even try to open it and he gives me a curious glare.
“Give me your keys.” His face grows more suspicious, but he pulls them out of his pocket and hands them to me. “Stay right here.”
“You’re leaving me at the door? Like a stray dog or a postal package?”
“Hey, I picked Ginny up off a porch, I’ll come back for you too,” I tease. “Don’t come in. I’m serious.” I point a finger at him and he holds his hands up.
