Keeping You (Destined Love #3)

7. Hannah

CHAPTER 7

Hannah

W hen I wake up, my phone is full of texts both in the group chat and from my friends individually.

Fucking Grayson Maxwell and his big fucking mouth. Ugh.

I’m so pissed he went all fucking alpha and declared in front of everyone at dinner that I’m his wife. When he caged me against the car last night, I wanted to bite back, give him a piece of my mind, but then I flashed back to when I was a kid and heard the yelling and screaming from my parents and the anxiety the fighting brought me. So, I bit my tongue, and we rode home in silence, but I know that I’m not doing myself justice by letting him just get his way. I really need to find a way to drive him away and make him sign the annulment papers as soon as possible.

I know I can’t ignore my friends and their texts forever, but I hope I can at least make it through the morning before I have to share everything with them.

Grayson is still asleep when I step out of the bedroom, and it’s time to start phase one of scaring him off.

I’m no longer going to be a respectful roommate.

I bang around the kitchen as I gather everything I need to make myself a smoothie. I make sure to leave kitchen cabinets open and food scrapes on the counter as I load everything into the blender and turn it on. As the blender whirls, I stare at Grayson, who’s now sitting up on the couch and rubbing his eyes.

“Good morning,” he says groggily.

“Morning.”

I turn off the blender and pour my smoothie into a cup. Then I leave the dirty blender filled with water in the sink. I settle in the corner of the couch and grab the remote, putting on Love Is Blind season 1 episode 1. Grayson looks over at me before leaving and going to the washroom. When he comes back out, his eyes bounce between me and the kitchen. With a sigh, he rinses the blender and loads it into the dishwasher, closes the kitchen cabinets, tosses the ends of my fruit into the food scraps bucket under the sink, and takes a wet cloth to the counters.

He makes himself coffee and an omelette before settling at the table. I watch him out of the corner of my eye but say nothing.

He eventually changes and says he’s going on a run as he leaves the apartment. I let out a breath as I pause the show.

Okay, I’ve started step one, make Grayson’s apartment a mess, but it’s not enough. This morning was just a tiny inconvenience. If I really want him to call it quits, I need to completely take over his apartment.

With a plan in place, I find a water bottle and fill it, leaving it beside the couch before I go into the bedroom. I grab my bag that has my romance books and movies inside and load up my arms before taking them into the living room. I place my movies on the entertainment unit. When mine don’t all fit, I take some of his out and put them in a basket underneath. I place my books on every flat surface I can, the side table, the coffee table, the dining table, the kitchen counter, and the shelves.

I take a step back and assess. It’s a good start, you can begin to see my presence in the apartment, but it needs to be more.

I check the time then order an Uber to my place so I can grab some things from my apartment and my car. When I step inside, I realize just how much I miss having my own little oasis. It hasn’t been long since I moved into Grayson’s, but I can’t help but want to be back home in my own place. I tell myself that if everything goes well with my plan, I’ll be back here in no time.

I load up a few bags with some miscellaneous things and load my car. After parking back at Grayson’s, I take up the first load, dropping it all in the living room. Hearing the shower going, I figure I have enough time to go down and get the last load before he’s out.

I place throw blankets over the back of the couch and add a basket of them to the corner of the living room. I place candles everywhere, lighting a few as I go. I pull out a stuffed pig that I’ve had since I was a kid and place it amongst the throw pillows I set up on the couch.

I’ve just pressed play on Love Is Blind when Grayson walks out of the bathroom, his eyes taking in all the changes I’ve made to his apartment. He opens and closes his mouth as he looks. His eyes land on me, and he shakes his head before walking into his bedroom and coming back out dressed in a pair of gym shorts and a T-shirt.

“I see you’ve made yourself comfortable,” he says.

“I have, thank you.”

“Okay, well, I’m going to go hit a few balls with the guys. Text me if you need anything.”

I watch as he leaves the apartment again.

Why is he not blowing up? I was rude and woke him up this morning with loud noises, made a mess in the kitchen, which I didn’t clean up, and filled his entire apartment with my stuff.

Frustrated, I huff as I turn off the show, grab my Kindle, and settle back on the couch. I need a good book boyfriend to distract me.

Around lunch time, I get a text in the group chat.

Liv

Lunch today? You’ve got to talk to us Han, we’re here for you.

Han

Sure. I’m at Grayson’s so let me know where.

Zo

Sammy’s close to you?

Han

I’ll make it work. See you in 30.

I gather my things before heading to my car to meet the girls. I know this is going to be difficult. The girls are probably hurt I didn’t tell them, but also I don’t know how to fully explain how I ended up to married to Grayson. The night we got married is still a complete blank for me.

Growing up, I always pictured my wedding with the white dress, the decorations, my friends and family. The only thing that wasn’t set in my mind was my groom. Not being able to remember that night sucks, because I feel like I’ve lost the one thing I’ve always dreamed of. Knowing I’ll never get that first wedding back crushes a small piece of my soul. I only hope that when the ninety days are up and I can get this marriage annulled, I’ll have that chance of meeting the one person I’ll get to spend the rest of my life with.

Outside of the diner, I take a deep breath before getting out of my car and making my way inside. The girls are already there in a booth with drinks in front of them as they talk.

My best friends.

The guilt begins to eat at me. I know these girls would never judge me. They’ve been there for me through thick and thin. They are the sisters I never had.

I slide into the booth beside Zoey, and the girls look at me, smiling hesitantly. I smile back.

Sammy, the owner and a waitress in the diner, approaches with a cup of coffee for me. We place our orders, and when Sammy leaves all eyes are back on me.

“Sooooo….” I start, my fingers playing with the handle of the coffee mug. I tell them the entire story of how I woke up married to Grayson and our ninety-day agreement. I take a long sip of my coffee before looking at the girls again.

“So, I agreed to give him ninety days, because I just want to get this over with. I don’t want him to drag this out. I don’t want to be a repeat of my parents,” I say, and they nod, knowing exactly what I mean. They’ve heard the story and know just how badly it affected me. They’re silent as they watch me. I can see the wheels turning in each of their heads as they try to understand how I ended up married to the man I’ve told them I hate.

I’m not sure that’s the appropriate word to describe how I feel about Grayson Maxwell. How do you describe that feeling of going from seeing a potential future with someone and wanting to really try a relationship, to being completely destroyed by something they’ve done? I still don’t understand the events of two years ago. I know nothing has come of a relationship between Samantha and Grayson since then, no matter how much she wants one.

After the night of the supply closet incident, he never tried reaching out again. He never tried to explain what happened, or why he did what he did. It got to the point where I was so upset about him not contacting me, I actually changed my cell phone number, trying to convince myself that him not having my new number was the reason he wasn’t reaching out. I know that makes me delusional, but I was so hurt.

Liv is the first one to break the silence. “Why ninety days?”

I shake my head and lift a shoulder. “I don’t know. He was very specific about that when he was trying to convince me to make this work. I knew if I didn’t agree, he could drag this out and fight it, so I agreed.”

“What are you going to do for the next ninety days?” Liz asks.

A Cheshire grin spreads across my face. “I’m going to make him regret the day he ever married me.”

Liz’s eyes go wide as Zoey and Liv almost choked on their drinks, and Bailey assesses me.

“And how do you plan on doing that?” Zoey asks.

My cheeks hurt from the size of my smile as I position myself so I can see all four of their faces perfectly when I say, “I’m going to How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days him.”

They stare at me for three seconds before they all break out laughing. We’ve watched that movie as a group so many times; it never fails to be a perfect comfort movie for us when we need a girls’ day. They know exactly what I’m talking about.

When their laughter finally subsides, Liv asks, “Are you sure you don’t wanna give this a real shot? I know you have issues with Grayson and you guys have a history, but have you ever thought that maybe you don’t have the whole picture? I mean, Josh trusts him with his life.”

I gnaw on my lip. All these people in my life have nothing but amazing things to say about Grayson, but it’s hard for me to reconcile all of that with my experience. As much as my rational brain wants to listen to what my friends have to say, I think the hurt part of my heart is winning. I don’t want to feel like I did two years ago. I still want that soul-changing, life-altering love I’ve always yearned for. In thirty-five years, I want my children to have cherished pictures of me and my husband, completely in love, like Grayson has now.

I don’t want to be like my mother, on her third marriage and married to someone I don’t think she actually loves. I think my mom is in her marriage for the aesthetics and security of it. She wants that portrayal of being happy and in love and thriving in life and the financial security he provides her.

Watching Josh and Olivia and Caleb and Bailey over the last year has shown me that there are soulmates out there. There are people who will be there for you unconditionally, who will love every part of you. As much as I love my friends and I’ve loved watching them fall in love, I can’t help but feel jealous. To wish it was me finding that person.

I shake my head. “We tried this once. I don’t think giving it another shot is going to change anything. When the ninety days are done, we will sign the papers and go our separate ways. Until then, I will endure living with him and try to get him to end this earlier.”

Liz asks, “Why didn’t you tell us earlier? You know we’d never judge or abandon you, right?”

Liz and I have been friends the longest. We met during eleventh grade in our first period English class. I went through some difficult things with my mom that year, and she was there and supported me through it all. I see in her eyes that me not saying anything to her hurts. I’ve shared every crazy, embarrassing, painful thing I’ve gone through with her, and I know she’ll always be there for me. The same for Liv, Zoey, and Bailey. I think I was judging myself and was so disappointed in myself that I refused to voice it to the girls.

“Yeah. I’m still struggling with it all. It’s been a week since we woke up in the Vegas hotel room, and I still can’t believe I made such a dumb mistake. Now, I have to live with the consequences and get myself out of this mess.”

After a few seconds, they nod, and we transition the conversation to summer plans. I’m thankful for my friends and their support.

Bailey and Liv leave first, needing to get home to their kids, and Zoey has a family dinner she needs to get ready for, leaving Eliza and me at the table. She stares into her coffee as she takes a deep breath.

Eliza doesn’t say a lot; she’s usually the observant one offering her opinion when she thinks it’s necessary. I watch as she presses her lips together the way she does when she’s gathering her thoughts before saying something. I reach out and grab her hand.

“I’m sorry for not telling you before. I know you would never judge me”—I let out a breath slowly—“I’m still not sure I’ve fully wrapped my head around being married. I’m still not happy that Grayson dropped it like he did.”

Her eyes sparkle a bit as she places her free hand on top of mine. “He cares for you, Hannah. I know you may not see or understand it, but he does. I think him getting possessive and not signing the annulment proves that. In time you’ll see,” she says.

“I’m not sure it’s like that—” I start, but she squeezes my hand.

“Hannah, you know I love you. I think you’re letting your heart do too much of the thinking right now. Let your eyes and brain do some of the work.”

I nod, but I’m not sure I can let my heart take a back seat.

We pay our bills and hug each other before going our separate ways. When I walk into the apartment, I’m momentarily stunned by the sight of Grayson shirtless doing push-ups in the middle of the living room. The muscles in his arms strain as the veins bulge under his skin each time he goes down. I drop my keys on the counter, causing him to look up at me as I move to grab a glass of water.

He doesn’t stop, in fact, I think he starts going faster.

His skin glistens with sweat, and I drink my water as my throat seems to get drier the more I watch him. When my glass is empty I fill it again, and I swear to God I see the man fucking smirk. I turn my back to him and finish the water before leaving the glass in the sink and heading into the bedroom.

I’m getting settled on the bed with my Kindle in hand when there’s a knock on the door. I ignore it. He knocks again.

I huff as I shout, “Yeah.”

He opens the door and leans against the door frame as he stares at me. He’s still shirtless, and I watch as a stray drop of sweat travels between his pecks, down his stomach, and to the waistband of his gym shorts that are hanging off his hips. He chuckles, and my eyes snap to his.

“Can I help you with something?” I grit out.

“Yeah.” He smirks. “I’m taking my wife out on a date tonight.”

I clench my jaw so tightly my teeth hurt. When I open my mouth, he puts a hand up to stop me.

“You agreed. Ninety days, and we do it right. We live together, and we go on dates.”

My mouth snaps closed, and I glare at him. “Fine. What time are we leaving?”

“In an hour, figured that should be enough time to get ready.”

“Where are we going?”

He grins. “It’s a surprise, dress comfortably.”

He leaves and closes the door behind him, leaving me staring at the place he was just standing. Figures today would be the day he throws in my face that I agreed to dates. My friends will have even more ammunition when they find out about this.

I grumble to myself as I get out of bed and have a shower. As I stand in the closet afterwards, my eyes catch on something and I grin. I’m not sure why I packed this, but it’s perfect for today. If Grayson is going to force me to go on a date, I’m going to embarrass the hell out him.

I grab the items I need and quickly get dressed, taking a quick peak at myself in the mirror before heading into the living room to meet Grayson. He’s dressed casually in a pair of shorts and runners with a T-shirt that looks better on him than it has any right to. He looks up from his phone, and shock fills his face before he smooths out his expression. I can’t blame him to be honest. Normally, I’d never leave the house dressed like this, but it’s all for the shock value and embarrassment so that, hopefully, I can be single again soon. I look, odd, to say the least.

A few years ago, I attended some animal print party and, me being me, went all out. I bought cheetah print leggings, a cheetah print tank top, and happened to find some shoes, too. Packing was a haze, but I managed to grab the entire outfit from my closet, and I couldn’t be more glad I did.

Grayson holds his hand out, indicating he’ll follow me. I leave the apartment and wait for him to lock the door before me make our way down to the car. He opens my door for me before rounding the car and driving out of the parkade.

He heads south and out of the bustling downtown air. I stare out the window as he drives us closer to the water, realizing he’s taking me to the beach. I look over at him, and he smiles softly before his gaze returns to the road. He parks in front of one of the most popular beaches in the area. We get out and he heads to the trunk, grabbing a picnic basket and blanket. I follow him to the middle of the beach, where he lays out the blanket. We kick off our shoes and sit.

A light breeze comes off the water, and I close my eyes and absorb the feeling of it on my skin and the smell of the ocean. After a minute, I open my eyes and turn to look at Grayson, who is watching me. He gives his head a quick shake before he opens the basket and pulls out two little bottles of sparkling wine, a container of cut cheese, another with salami, a bag of crackers, and a variety of fruit. It’s everything I would pack to take to the beach.

He unscrews one of the bottles of wine and passes it to me before opening his and taking a sip.

I stare at the food and realize I’m actually hungry. He opens the salami first and holds the container out to me. I grab a slice and moan as I take a bite. Grayson coughs as he adjusts himself.

“Your favourite colour still pastel green?” he asks.

“Umm.” I take a bite of cheese. “Yeah,” I say hesitantly.

He nods and tosses a piece of cheese into his mouth.

“You still saving for that trip to Paris?”

I nod. “Yeah. Not sure when I’ll actually be able to go on it, but still working towards it.” I’ve always wanted to visit Paris. Being someone who is looking for true love, of course I want to visit the city of love at least once in my life. Ideally, I would take the trip with my partner, but if not, a solo trip would be just as fun.

He smiles softly. “Well, I know you’ll be able to take that trip soon. I’m sure it will be amazing.”

We sit in silence for a minute, the sound of the water lapping at the shore and people enjoying their day out.

“How’s your dad?” he asks.

I sigh. “He’s good. He’s dating someone new. She seems to be good for him. He sounds happier when I talk to him on the phone.”

He smiles. “I’m glad.”

When Grayson and I tried this two years ago, I told him how I was closest to my dad. My dad was the person I could always turn to when I needed help. When my parents split, it was hard. My mom was super self-involved and tried to make everyone feel bad for her. I was an adult when I learned from someone close to the family the truth as to why they separated. Mom had cheated. Since then, she’s gone through more men than I have fingers. She’s on her third husband, whom she’s already on the rocks with. Over the years, I’ve pulled away from her, not needing the toxicity in my life.

“Okay, truth or dare?” Grayson asks, and my head swings towards him.

“Neither.”

“Spitfire, you’ve got to give me something here. We’re on a date. Let’s have fun.”

“Fine. Truth.”

He tips his head back, staring at the sky for a second before he looks at me. “Most embarrassing moment in college.”

Do I go as embarrassing as the time I was dared to streak across campus only to run into my biology professor when he was on his way home and I was five minutes away from my dorm and had to go all the way back completely mortified? Or do I go less embarrassing and say the time I spilt sulfuric acid all over my chemistry homework in front of the entire lab and ended up having to redo the assignment?

Looking at Grayson, I decide to go with the latter. As I’m explaining the story, I have his sole focus. His eyes don’t leave me, and it has my feelings all over the place. It makes me want to crawl out of my skin and be anywhere but under his gaze, but it also has me wanting to puff out my chest with pride that the Grayson Maxwell, who could have any woman he wants, who has had any woman he wants, is only paying attention to me. Not the women in bikini’s playing volleyball twenty feet to his left, or the woman sunbathing with her ass facing us five feet in front of us. His eyes are only on me. The pride is followed by disgust. Having his attention like this should not make me happy, because I know it doesn’t last.

When I finish telling the story, I say, “Okay, your turn, truth or dare?”

“Dare.”

I grin, having the perfect one in mind that I know will follow him for months.

I hold my hand out, palm up. “Phone please.”

He grabs it, unlocking it with a questioning look before placing it in my hand. I open his texts and find the person I’m looking for.

Grayson

You and me, naked party tonight 6pm.

The moment I see that the message has been delivered, I delete it and hand him his phone back. He looks at it, doesn’t see anything, and pockets it.

“Your turn. Truth or dare?”

I clasp my hands in front of me as I stare at him. “Dare.”

“I dare you to shove as much food as you can in your mouth, let me take a pic, and post it to your Instagram.”

I look down at myself and then back at him. A mouth full of food and the most ridiculous outfit plastered all over my Instagram for the world to see is not how I thought this would go.

I reach for crackers, cheese, and salami and stuff as much as I can in and hand him my locked phone. He opens the camera and takes a picture. He’s grinning from ear to ear as he looks at my phone. I reach over and grab a napkin, disposing of the gross food because there is no way I was going to be able to chew and swallow that.

He hands me back my phone and watches as I post it with the caption dares at the beach with the wave emoji.

We play a few more rounds. As the sun starts to set and the breeze off the water turns cooler, I start to shiver a bit. Grayson notices and wraps an arm around me, pulling me in close. The smell of his cologne mixing with the heat from his body is intoxicating. If things were different and we didn’t have the history we do, I’d be wrapping my arms around him and straddling his lap as I go in for a kiss.

I hate that we have this negative history. I wish everything could go back to the moment before I walked into that stupid closet and saw them together. But it can’t.

I wiggle out of his hold and put some distance between us. Today has not worked out how I had envisioned. I thought my outfit would make him not want to go out, and when that didn’t deter him, I figured I would suffer through the next few hours and go home and curl up with a good book. Of course, Grayson had to go and fuck it all up, because part way through I actually started enjoying myself.

I kicked myself when I was intrigued about the fact that when he was in high school he always thought he’d go to university for, what he now calls a boring job, accounting. Accounting is far off from being a doctor. I chickened out when it came to asking him what changed it all and made him chose medical school. I knew he has a younger sister, but I didn’t know she’s what he misses most about being home in his small town of Willow Valley.

The way he talked about his sister and their town had me wishing I could go and visit, but that’s not something Grayson and I will do. This isn’t a real marriage.

When the sun finally sets beyond the horizon, we pack up the basket and blanket and head to the car. We take our time driving through the city before returning home. I’m halfway down the hall to the bedroom when he reaches out and grabs my wrist.

I turn back and stare at where he holds me. Goosebumps have scattered up my arm from the touch.

“Thank you,” he says, and my eyes move up to his. “Thank you for the date.”

I nod and move into the bedroom, leaning against the door as I shake my head, trying to process the events of the day.