Keeping You (Destined Love #3)

5. Hannah

CHAPTER 5

Hannah

I need a plan. It’s only been twenty-four hours since I landed and Grayson picked me up and I’ve already found myself ogling him or staring into his eyes. I can’t let my resolve break. I need to stay strong. I need to find a way to drive him away so he calls an end to this arrangement before our time is up.

Needing the time to clear my head, I choose to walk to work. When I arrive at the hospital, I make my way to my locker, leaving my bag as I grab my stethoscope and water bottle and head to the nurse’s station. I settle into a chair and log into the system, pulling up the files of the patients currently in the ER. As I’m scrolling, I hear Samantha’s voice behind me. She laughs as she says, “Trust me, Dr. Maxwell and I would have had so much more fun in Vegas than him and boring ol’ Hannah.”

My stomach turns as my thumb plays with the rings on my left hand. I haven’t taken them off since that morning. I don’t know why, it’s not like they hold any special significance to me. They only sit there reminding me of the drunken mistake I made. Despite that, I leave them on.

I turn in my chair and find Samantha looking at me. She smirks when our gazes meet then walks off to one of the emergency bays. I shake my head. A month after Samantha started at the hospital, she became one of those mean girls. We were friendly at first, but then suddenly some switch flipped.

My shift drags, and by the time I’m off, I’m beat. In the locker room, I remember I walked here and now I have to walk back. I groan as I lean against my locker. I just want to take my shoes off, grab a shower, eat something, and curl up and sleep. As I grab my bag, I realize I never got keys from Grayson, so I also don’t have a way to get back into the building. My place is too far to walk to.

What a way to end a shitty shift.

Stepping out of the locker room, feeling defeated, I try to figure out what I’m going to do when Grayson pushes off the wall across from me. He holds out a cup of what looks like lemonade.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

“When you left last night, I never had a chance to give you a set of keys, and I realized you walked here. Thought you could use a ride after a long shift.”

I stare at him. Why is he doing these nice things for me? And how long is it going to last? I know it can change at any minute.

As I take a sip of my lemonade, enjoying the refreshing coldness, Samantha walks toward us. She eyes me and Grayson suspiciously. When she gets closer, a smile lights up her face and her hand reaches out to squeeze Grayson’s forearm. My stomach tightens as my eyes lock on the touch. Seeing her hand on him has me wanting to yank it off. I don’t know why I’m feeling this way. I don’t even want to be in this relationship, but I am, and he is legally my husband. Seeing her touch him like this pisses me off. It’s not something I haven’t seen before. I know she has zero regard for others when it comes to what she wants. I learned that the hard way.

“I didn’t think you worked today, Dr. Maxwell,” she practically purrs.

“I don’t. I’m here to pick Hannah up.”

Her expression dims slightly before she plasters the smile back on. “Well, I guess that means you can take me to breakfast then.”

Grayson’s eyes widen, and he shakes his head. “No, like I said, I’m here for Hannah.”

Removing his arm from her grasp, he holds his hand out for me, indicating he’ll follow me. I step in front of him and feel Samantha’s eyes digging into my back. I walk toward the closest elevator, and Grayson pushes the down button. Being near Grayson has always caused my skin to prickle. My senses feel heightened, and I’m hyperaware of his presence. Being with him in silence has my skin crawling, though. I don’t like the man. I have no idea what to say to break the silence that wouldn’t be awkward.

When we arrive at his car, he opens the passenger door for me and waits for me to get settled and buckled before he rounds the car to the driver’s seat. He immediately turns on the radio, like the silence bugs him, too. I take note that it’s not a radio station, but rather he’s got an early 2000s playlist playing. The drive to his place is quick. I walk in the front door and toe off my shoes, immediately relieved. I slowly move to the couch, allowing it to eat me as I sink into it.

Leaning my head back, I close my eyes. A minute later, I feel Grayson’s presence looming over me. Cracking one eye, I look up at him.

His eyes are soft as he looks at me and holds out a protein bar. “You should probably eat this. If you’re hungry for more, I can make you something. I’m sure you want to shower after your shift. I can have it done when you’re out.”

That sounds so nice. My entire body melts at his words, and I whisper, “Thank you. Food sounds good.”

I make my way into his bedroom and into the en-suite washroom, turning the water on to a blistering temperature while I strip out of my scrubs. I wait for the bathroom to fill with steam before stepping under the water. My muscles slowly relax as the hot water runs down my body. When I finish, I join Grayson in the kitchen, where he’s taking a pancake out of a pan. He takes the plate over to the table before retreating to the kitchen and returning with bacon and fruit. He’s gone all out.

I slip into a chair and slowly pile food on my plate before digging in. I moan around a mouthful of bacon. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I started eating. I completely devour my food while Grayson watches me with a small smile. Spending this much time with him is making me uneasy. Over the last two years, all the time we’ve spent together has been either because of work or our friends. I guess this is more forced time spent with him as he made me agree to this stupid ninety-day agreement, but what else was I supposed to do? Say no and let him drag this out just to annoy me.

Nope.

This is better. When we have days off together, I can work to avoid him. Olivia just had her baby, so I can go spend time with her and help with baby Cate. I’m sure I can convince Liz to go out with me a couple of nights, or I can crash at her or Zoey’s place.

As I finish eating, my exhaustion settles in, a yawn leaves me as I sag in my chair.

“Thank you for breakfast.”

Grayson nods and reaches for my plate.

“I can clean up. You cooked,” I say.

He shakes his head. “I’ve got this Hannah. Just go get some rest.”

I push up from my seat and move into the bedroom, sliding under the covers. His mattress is the perfect softness where it feels like you’re floating, but not so soft you’re falling into it. Last night was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in a while, and I’m not sure if that was because I was so tired after the weekend, or because of this perfect bed.

No matter what I do to try to sleep, it’s fruitless, and I toss and turn. I groan, knowing the one thing that never fails to get me to fall asleep when I’m tired, but my brain won’t shut up.

I slide out of the bed and rummage through my bag, finding just what I’m looking for. I grab my headphones out of my purse and settle back under the blanket. I pull up the last audiobook I was listening to. It was just ramping up, and I figure it can help me alleviate some tension.

I listen as the story starts playing in my ears. When the main male character says, “Fuck it,” I turn on my vibrator. I moan once it’s in place, biting my hand to try to quiet the sound. God, this male narrator’s voice is like liquid gold. It has me melting further into the bed. The dirty talk doesn’t hurt either. As the scene progresses, I turn up speed of the vibrator. I feel myself building higher and higher. As the male voice growls, “Come for me,” my back arches off the bed and my toes curl into my feet as I come. I bite my lip, holding back the moan that wants to leave me. I come down from the high and clean up in the washroom before climbing back into bed, sleep finally taking me.

When I wake up in the morning, Grayson isn’t home. I have a few hours before I need to head to work, so I slip into leggings, a sports bra, and my runners. Grabbing the extra set of keys Grayson had made for me off the kitchen counter, I head down the street. The sun is warm on my skin as I join the busy sidewalk of people.

I haven’t run the seawall in a while, so I start in a light jog in that direction, warming up as I zig-zag my way through the city streets. When I finally catch a glimpse of the water, I pick up the pace, inhaling the smell of the ocean. Growing up in the city, I always enjoyed trips to the beach, trying to get away from the tall concrete buildings. Stanley Park is that little oasis in the middle of downtown that allows a small escape.

I jog past people stopping and taking pictures of the blooming cherry blossoms at the entrance to the park. I smile as I pick up speed, breaking into a full run now that I’m in the park. The feeling of the path beneath my feet is familiar. A gentle breeze comes off the water, and I find a bench at the perfect spot for me to turn around. I settle in, enjoying the view.

“Fancy finding you here,” Grayson says as he sits beside me.

I ignore him. I had hoped leaving the apartment would give me time to come to terms with everything. I watch as he taps a finger on his knee. I count the pattern. One, two, three, hold. One, two, three, hold. He repeats it five times before he leans forward, bracing his forearms on his legs.

“I run the seawall every day. It helps me clear my head. I’ll run it after a difficult shift, no matter the time of day,” he says.

I nod. It feels weird to have him open up to me, even about something as small as his running path or that he runs after difficult shifts.

“I started running when I went to college and just never gave it up. Something about it helps clear my head. It helps me stay grounded when the world around me is beyond crazy.”

Not sure what to say, I nod. I push up from the bench and start toward the apartment. He catches up and matches pace with me.

“Hannah, I know this isn’t a situation you thought you’d be in right now, but we are. You could at least talk to me.”

“You’re right,” I bite back. “I didn’t see myself coming back from Vegas married to you. I think the most frustrating thing is not that I woke up married to you, but that instead of just signing annulment papers, you’ve made me agree to ninety days.”

“Being married to me for ninety days is such a hardship for you? You’d rather be married and end it within seven days than be married to me?”

I see him shake his head out of the corner of my eye. “Grayson, we tried this before. It didn’t work out. I don’t really believe that people change.”

He nods and slows his pace. I keep steady, pulling away from him, thankful for the distance.

All of this has me remembering the very unpleasant feelings of two years ago. Grayson and I had gone on a few dates, done coffee and dinner, and I thought we were building something. That was until I walked in on him and Samantha in a supply closet before Grayson and I were supposed to meet for dinner one night. Her hands were in his hair, and they were kissing. My stomach had turned instantly, and I ran out of the room and made my way to the closest bathroom, emptying the contents of my stomach. I ignored all his texts and calls after and met up with the girls at a bar and got wasted.

The girls know Grayson and I went out a few times, but what I didn’t tell them was that I had started to see a future with him. My parents’ marriage might have completely fallen apart, and it was hard on me, but it didn’t make me lose the desire for true love. Seeing it with Olivia and Josh and then Caleb and Bailey has only made me yearn for it more. I want that person who makes me feel complete. Someone who truly knows every part of me. More and more, I’m beginning to feel like I might never find that.

As if my mother can read my mind, my phone buzzes with a text when I walk in the front door.

Mother

Don’t forget my birthday celebration is next weekend.

Hannah

Yes. I’ll be there.

Mother

You should bring someone with you. You won’t be young forever.

Hannah

Maybe.

Mother

I’m only looking out for your best interest, Hannah.

Hannah

I’m good, Mom.

I toss my phone on the bed before making my way into the shower.

Ever since I turned eighteen, my mother has been trying to set me up or pushing me to date and find someone. Her idea of an ideal partner is someone who makes a lot of money. She doesn’t care about anything else. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s why she married her third husband. But I want more. I’m not going to settle for a loveless marriage just because someone can support me financially. I can do that all on my own. I want someone who will be there through thick and thin. Someone I look forward to coming home to after a long day. I want them to get along with my friends and understand just how important they are to me. My girls are the family I’ve chosen. I’m an only child and I always wanted siblings, and the girls are my chosen ones.

When I head into the kitchen, Grayson is already there cooking something. He turns and looks at me, nodding slightly as he takes what looks like an omelette out of the pan and places it on a plate before putting it on the table and returning to the stove, making another. He looks back at me. “Eat up before it gets cold.”

I do as I’m told and dig into the omelette. It’s delicious. I’m not sure where Grayson learned to cook, but everything he’s made me so far has been amazing. Not that I’d tell him that. He doesn’t need anything else to grow his enormous ego.

Settling in beside me, he says, “I’m working tonight, so I can give you a ride and bring you home in the morning if you’d like.”

I still haven’t grabbed my car from my place, and I don’t want to have to walk home tomorrow. I accept and finish my food then take my plate into the kitchen and load the dishwasher.

“What time do you want to leave?” I ask.

“Six thirty.”

“I’ll be ready,” I say before going to the bedroom, grabbing my Kindle, and settling into the bed.

Riding to work with Grayson is awkward. I’m thankful for the music that plays softly in the car as we make our way the short distance to the hospital. As soon as he shifts to park, I throw the door open and make my way to the elevator bank, needing to put distance between us. We’ve spent way too much time just the two of us over the last few days.

I barely manage to get my arm into the gap of space between the elevator doors and slide in before jabbing at the close door button, hoping the elevator will leave Grayson behind.

I catch a small glimpse of him as the doors finally close. His face is blank, and it has my stomach bottoming out. Grayson is always so carefree and it’s usually written all over his face. This stoney lack of facial expression is something I’ve never seen from him.

The chiming of the elevator as it arrives on my floor pulls me out of my thoughts. I rush into the locker room and deposit my bag into my locker before making my way to the nurses’ station and logging in. I stiffen when the sound of Samantha’s annoying flirtatious laugh hits my ears.

Grayson’s arrived.

For some reason, he is the only person who gets that laugh out of her. Her voice grows louder as they approach.

“You should totally join me for drinks tomorrow. I’m sure you have some stories about Vegas, and I’d love to hear them.”

I roll my eyes so hard I can feel them pull inside the sockets. I look up and am met with Samantha’s glare. It’s one of those thinly veiled ones that if you didn’t know better, you’d think she was looking at me indifferently, but I know her. I know the tightness around her eyes and the firm set of her lips as she presses them together.

"Hannah, do you not think that Grayson would have some great stories about Vegas? I know you were probably holed up in your room the entire time, but Grayson must have gotten out and seen the town."

I look at her intensely before my gaze moves to Grayson and I plaster on a fake smile.

“Yeah, Grayson. Why don’t you go for drinks with Samantha.”

His eyes narrow slightly as if that will allow him to see more behind my words. He shakes his head.

“No, I’m good. I have plans tomorrow.”

“Awwww, Grayson.” She pouts and grabs his arm. “Why not? We could have so much fun.”

He gently plies her hand off of his arm. “As I said, I have plans. Now, if you’ll both please excuse me, I’m going to check on my patients.”

His eyes dart to me quickly before he moves to bay one and steps behind the curtain.

Samantha huffs as she rounds the counter and sits in a chair beside me. Not wanting to deal with any more of Samantha than I have to, I leave and start checking the stats of the patients in the ER.

At the halfway mark of my shift, I inform Samantha that I’m taking my break and head to the cafeteria. I quickly grab a sandwich and bottle of Coke before sitting at a table in the corner and pulling up my Kindle app on my phone. I’m halfway down the page when the chair across from me is pulled out.

My eyes flick up from my phone, and I see Grayson sitting there. I ignore him, hoping he’ll take the hint and leave me alone.

He clears his throat, and I continue to ignore him. He clears it again, and I huff, locking my phone and putting it on the table.

“Is there something I can help you with Dr. Maxwell?”

He offers me a smirk. “I’m just sitting down enjoying my break with my wife.”

My eyes widen as I look around to see who could have heard us. Thankfully, it’s early morning and there aren’t a lot of people around.

“Can you please not say that?” I whisper-hiss at him.

He grins as he leans forward over the table. “You don’t want me saying you’re my wife?” he says, a little louder this time.

“No, I’d rather like it if you left me alone.”

“I want to eat with you, maybe enjoy some conversation.”

Why is he so persistent?

“I’m good. Thanks.”

“The way I see it, you can either sit here and eat with me while engaging in some conversation, or I can very loudly announce to the entire room that you’re my wife. You know how quickly gossip spreads in this place. Your choice,” he says, looking very satisfied with himself.

I stare at him, my blood boiling. He opens his mouth wide like he’s about to yell something, and I reach forward, clamping my hand over his mouth.

“Fine. You can sit here and we can talk,” I grit out and watch the smile in his eyes grow as I remove my hand from his mouth.

Sitting back in my chair, I take a bite of my sandwich as Grayson takes a bite of his. If he wants a conversation, then he’s going to have start it. I’m not putting any effort into this.

“Do you have anything planned for this summer?” he asks.

“So far just the group camping trip.”

He nods. “Has Liv picked a spot yet?”

“Yeah, she managed to snag a spot right on the lake in Osoyoos. She booked it for the first weekend in August, arrive Thursday and leave Monday.”

“Sounds good. I’m sure it will be fun.”

He takes a sip of water and watches me. I take another bite of my sandwich. The faster I eat, the faster this can be over.

“Bucket list thing to do?” he asks.

I think for a second, trying to decide just how much I want to reveal to him. Deciding to keep it to something small, I say, “I want to swim beneath a waterfall.”

He absorbs my words, and we spend the rest of our lunch break eating in silence. Returning to the floor, I power through my shift until it’s time for me to clock out. I know that means I have to spend a car ride with Grayson, but at this point, I’m just ready to shower and climb into bed and sleep.

I meet Grayson at his car where he’s leaning against the passenger side. He opens the door for me and helps me in before taking us home.