Page 90 of Waiting for Acceptance
“You okay, Trouble? You look like you’re going to throw up. Or pass out. Maybe both. Let me get you some water.” Fitz walks over to my fridge and grabs a bottle of water for me. How do I tell him I’m worried some of my best friends are going to harass him or make him feel left out or beat the shit out of him without either making myself sound crazy, or making them sound like terrible people. When, in reality, they’re just like…super protective.
“I’m fine.” I didn’t try hard enough to sell that, but he doesn’t mention it. He simply moves in front of me and grabs my face.
“We’re going to have a good time tonight, okay? Don’t worry about me fitting in with your friends, I’m pretty good at adapting in new environments. Plus, it’s not like it’s the first time I’ve met them.” He kisses my nose and turns to grab his keys off my counter, but almost as soon as I relax from his touch, I’m tense again.
“What do you mean you’ve met them before? When? Where?”
He looks at me with concern on his face. “You are really freaked out by this, aren’t you?” I shrug, not wanting to lie, but not really wanting to talk about it, either. “Why?” He frowns. “Is it because you think I’m not going to fit in, or am I not the kind of guy you want to take around your friends?” My mouth pops open, shocked that he even said that.
“What? Fitz, no.”
“I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t. I mean you’ve said from the beginning how much of an asshole I am.”
I storm over to him. “Fitz, no. Those were things I thought when I first met you.”
“And what about now, Trouble? What do you think of me now?” His features are hard and all I want to do is help soften them again.
“I think I like the version of you I’ve been getting to know, and I want my friends to get to know him too.” I reach up, cupping his cheek as he nods.
“You mean that?” The pained expression on his face makes me feel bad that my stupid anxiety ever made him question whether he was good enough to get to know my friends.
“Yes! I’m sorry I got so weird. I just…really want this to work. I want you to like them just as much as I want them to like you. They can be a little…rough around the edges.”
“Yeah, I’ll say,” he scoffs. I frown when he agrees with me.
“What do you mean by that?” He shakes his head, brushing off the last statement.
“Nothing.”
“That was not nothing,” I argue as he checks his watch, kisses my head, and starts for the door.
“It’s nothing, Trouble,” he sings out, walking farther away from me.
“Vince!” He stops mid-stride and turns around, his features softer now. “Please don’t lie to me. If it’s really nothing and youwere just saying that, then fine. But if something happened to make you agree with me, please tell me.” He sighs and walks back over to me.
“A little while back, I was at a gym in town, not too far from my hotel, and I saw the guys there. I had met Max at the bar already, and I remembered seeing Tank at the office one day when he came to pick you up and I…may or may not have offered to spar with him.” My eyes pop.
“And you’re stillalive?!”
“I think he took it easy on me.” He laughs.
“Oh my god.” My hands come up to cover my mouth. “Was that the week you came into the office with a busted lip and a bruised eye?” The look on his face is answer enough for me. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“That I got into a fight with a guy I saw pick you up from work, simply because I thought he might be your boyfriend and I was jealous? All while you still hated me. Didn’t think it would really matter. You probably would have told me I deserved it.”
I smirk at him and throw my arms around his neck. “You’re right, I probably would have said that.” He rolls his eyes and rests his hands on my ass.
“Go have a good time, and I’ll see you later, okay?” I nod in agreement and he kisses me quickly. “Grab your bag. I’ll walk you to your car.”
I take a deep breath, then do as he’s said. Once he’s closed my door behind me, I take a deep breath before turning my key.
Everything is going to be fine.
CHAPTER 46
FITZ
I can’t remember a time I’ve ever gone out for a drink in something other than a suit and discussed something other than business, golfing, or someone’s mistress. Going out for drinks in my world is always business or scandal related and I hate it with every fiber of my being. I pull up to Chattahoochies and lock up the Rover, sliding my keys into the front pocket of my jeans, shaking off any nerves I may have about this actually being an ambush by Lauren’s friends. I must say, I much prefer the jeans, sneakers, and plain white T-shirt I have on for a night out than the suit I’m usually wearing when I grab a drink after work.
