Keeping You (Destined Love #3)

27. Grayson

CHAPTER 27

Grayson

I t’s early Sunday morning when Hannah’s phone starts ringing like crazy. She silences it and rolls back into my side, but it rings again. She rolls over and silences it again, only for it to ring again when she’s back at my side.

“Really?” she groans as she rolls back and looks at it. She sighs heavily and answers. “Morning, Mom.”

Running a hand over my face, I climb out of bed, slipping into a pair of boxer briefs, and make my way to the kitchen to make coffee, knowing as soon as Hannah hangs up, she’s going to need some.

Her face is full of frustration when she comes out of the room. As soon as she’s close enough, I hand her a cup. She manages to give me a soft smile before plopping down in a chair at the table and taking a sip. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of the sight of her in my shirt.

I take a seat across from her. “Why was your mother calling?”

Her shoulders slump as she sighs. “She informed me that she’s planned a little celebration to celebrate our marriage this Saturday night. She’s lucky it’s one of my days off, but you’re working the night shift on Friday, so I told her you probably won’t be able to make it.”

She tips her head back before wiping her eyes. Seeing how a single phone call from Lauren impacts Hannah has my blood on fire. She wants nothing more than her mother’s love and approval.

“I’ll be there,” I say.

She looks at me, her tears sitting in her eyes, begging to fall. “Grayson, you don’t have to. It’s my mother. She should have asked if that day worked for us. I know how hard a Friday night shift is. I’ll just go on my own.”

“Spitfire, we’re family. You’re my wife. I’ll be there.”

My words have her tears falling in earnest. I stand and slide my hands under her thighs, picking her up as she wraps her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck. I carry her to the couch and sit with her wrapped around me. She holds on tightly as she cries, and I run my hand over her hair and kiss her temple. When her sobs subside, she’s still holding on. I want to be her rock. That place she knows will keep her safe in the storm.

I kiss her temple again and whisper, “Do you want to go back to bed?”

She nods against me, and I carry her, pulling the blankets aside so she can climb in. I climb in behind her, pulling her in tight. Her head rests on my chest while I run my fingers through her hair as her finger traces over my skin.

“Have you talked to your dad?” I ask.

“No,” she whispers. “We’re having dinner later this week.”

“Invite him on Saturday. It’s your party. In fact, you should invite the girls, too. If you’re going, you should be surrounded by people who support you.”

Her hand stops its delicate movements. Her breath dances across my chest as she lets out a long breath. She nods slightly. “You’re right.”

I feel the tension slowly leave her body as she relaxes into me. I don’t let myself sleep until I hear her soft snores.

This week has been a shit show at the hospital. Samantha called out for a couple shifts, so we were down a nurse, and we seemed to receive all the crazy cases over the last few days. I’m tired as fuck when I wake up from my nap on Saturday. I take a cold shower to help wake me up so I can make it through this party. Hannah’s dad agreed to be there tonight, along with all of our friends. I gave the guys a heads up about Lauren so they aren’t surprised when they get there.

Hannah’s dinner with her dad went about as she expected. He was sad to have missed her wedding and lose the chance to walk her down the aisle, but he said as long as she’s happy, he’s happy for her.

When I come out of the shower, Hannah’s looking at herself in the floor-length mirror. My jaw hits the floor. She’s wearing a gorgeous lavender dress that accentuates her every curve as it hugs her body. The dress dips to the middle of her back in a tasteful but extremely sexy way. She’s wearing strappy black heels that make her only a few inches shorter than me. Simple makeup highlights her natural features, and her hair is done up, showing off her long neck, and all I want to do is go over and mark every inch of it. I want to write mine over every inch of her body.

She notices me staring and smiles at me in the mirror. I can’t help myself. I walk up behind her and wrap my arms around her waist as I kiss her neck.

“You look stunning,” I whisper between kisses.

“Thank you,” she whispers between her quickening breaths.

I give her neck a little nip, and she moans.

I step back and say, “We should get going.”

She nods and faces me. With a wicked little grin, her fingers walk up my chest as she leans in and whispers, “I’ll get you back for that,” and walks away.

I know she’ll follow through, and I look forward to it.

When we pull up outside Lauren’s, tension radiates off Hannah. Her knuckles are white she’s holding her clutch so tightly. I move around the car and pull open her door. I undo her seatbelt and spin her so she’s facing me. Placing my hands on either side of her face, I make sure she’s looking me in the eye before I say, “Don’t let her get to you. I know it’s hard, and she’s your mom, but you are smart, and strong, and gorgeous. You are a respected nurse. You have friends who love you. She does not get to define your worth, only you do.”

She nods, and I kiss her forehead, offering her a hand to help her out of the car. We walk hand in hand to the front door, and I knock. Richard opens the door, a large smile on his face. He hugs Hannah before offering his hand to me, and I shake it.

“I’m so glad we could do this,” he says as he leads us inside.

The party spills out into their large backyard. Tables covered in white linens and food line the edge of the grass. Just to the right of the back door is a bar, with a young-looking bartender serving drinks. Opposite him is a table stacked with gifts.

With my hand on her lower back, I guide Hannah outside. Her mother spots us immediately and comes over, pulling Hannah into a hug. The fake energy radiates off Lauren. It’s so practiced that most people can’t even tell it’s fake, but after seeing the last interaction Hannah and her had, I can see through it. I don’t know how Hannah has dealt with her for so long, but I promise myself I’ll stand by her and make sure she doesn’t need to face her alone.

When she releases her, she turns her fake smile to me. “Oh, Grayson. It’s so nice to see you again. I’m glad you could make it. When Hannah said you couldn’t because of work, I was so disappointed.” She shoots Hannah a look of disapproval that grates every one of my nerves.

I wrap an arm around Hannah’s waist and pull her in close. She doesn’t resist, her body moulding to mine perfectly.

“Well, when Hannah mentioned it, I knew I couldn’t send her on her own, so a little power nap after my long overnight shift and here we are. Hannah was just being an understanding wife when she said I couldn’t make it. She knows just how hard the overnight shifts are, especially on the weekend. I appreciate her for it.”

Lauren’s lip purse for a second before returning to her practiced smile as she tries to hide her distaste for me standing up to her.

“Well, either way, I’m glad you’re here. We should really get you mingling with people, so we can get started,” she says.

“Oh, we’re still waiting for people, we can’t truly get things started without them,” I say, and the joy I feel at the look that flashes across Lauren’s face is indescribable.

“What do you mean you’re waiting for people?” she asks, her voice barely hiding her displeasure.

I kiss Hannah’s temple and squeeze her hip before saying, “Oh, since this is supposed to be a party celebrating our marriage, we thought it only appropriate we have some of the people that mean the most to us here. My family couldn’t make the trip on such short notice, but we did get to enjoy a week with them, so they’re okay with that.”

Just as I finish, I see Josh and Liv walk into the backyard with baby Cate, followed by Matt.

“Speaking of which, some of them have arrived. Please excuse us as we mingle.” My hand moves to the small of Hannah’s back as I guide her towards our friends.

When we’re out of earshot of her mother, Hannah leans in and whispers, “Thank you. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone stand up to my mother like that.”

I stop us and turn to her, cupping her face and running my thumb softly over her cheek. “I’m not going to let her continue to treat you like you’re some screw up because you don’t fit some mould she wants you to. You are perfect the way you are. One day, I’ll make you see it.”

I drop my hand, and we finish making our way over to Josh, Liv, and Matt. Liv and Hannah hug as I shake hands with the guys.

“Thanks for coming,” I say.

“Oh, we wouldn’t miss this for the world,” Olivia says. She peeks around us quickly and quirks a brow. “Although Lauren doesn’t look pleased.”

“We didn’t exactly tell her we invited more people. I’m looking forward to her reaction when Hannah’s dad gets here,” I say.

Liv’s eyebrows raise almost to her hairline. “You invited Bert?”

I nod and grin. “We couldn’t celebrate our marriage and not have him here.”

Liv shakes her head and holds back a laugh. “You’re really looking to stir the pot, aren’t ya?”

I look at Hannah, taking in just how beautiful she looks tonight, but also how her beauty is coupled with an anxiety I’ve only seen when she’s near Lauren. I turn back to Olivia. “I’m looking to support Hannah.”

I hold eye contact with her and watch her sharp intake of breath, and it’s then I know she knows what I feel for Hannah.

We talk for a few minutes until Zoey, Liz, Caleb, Bailey, and Charlie arrive.

Hannah grips my arm as she leans in to me. “I feel my mother’s eyes burning into the back of my skull.”

I look over my shoulder and see Lauren staring at Hannah, a look of disapproval barely concealed on her face.

“Oh, look at my gorgeous girl,” a man in his late fifties says as he walks out of the house and hugs Hannah.

She relaxes and wraps her arms around him as he sways her back and forth.

When he pulls back, he places his hands on her upper arms. “Now, don’t you look beautiful.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

He looks at me, and his smile is genuine as he says, “You must be the Grayson I’ve heard so much about.”

My eyes flick to Hannah, and pink tinges her cheeks. I reach a hand out to shake his. “I am. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Smith.”

“The pleasure’s all mine, son. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“You, too. I’m sorry I couldn’t make dinner earlier this week. I was on a bought of night shifts at the hospital.”

He pats me on the arm. “No need to explain. I know how crazy your guys’ shifts can be. I’m just happy when I can actually see my daughter.”

We laugh and socialize with our friends. People come over and offer their congratulations, and we do our best to be polite with these people we don’t know. The night is winding down and people are starting to leave when the air around us changes, becoming cold and stiff.

“Albert.” Lauren’s voice comes from beside me.

His smile is forced, but not fake the way Lauren’s is. “Lauren. How are you?”

“I’m good. I’m just going to steal Hannah away for a minute.”

Hannah’s eyes widen as she looks at me.

I lean down and kiss her cheek whispering, “You’re strong.”

She nods slightly and follows her mom.

I clock the time the second they walk away and check my watch every five seconds.

“You good?” Liz asks.

“I’m giving her three minutes before I go and check on Hannah,” I say.

“I’m sure she’s fine. It’s just her mom,” Matt says.

I look at him with a serious expression. “I’m giving her three minutes, and then I’m going to check on my wife.”

Matt laughs. “Separation anxiety, Mr. I-Won’t-Fall-in-Love?”

I shake my head. “No, I’m going to make sure that this time when we leave this house, my wife isn’t in tears. I’m going to make sure that someone who should love and respect her isn’t in there tearing into her because she hasn’t conformed to the mould she wants her to fit.”

Matt’s jaw drops, and I walk towards the house, not caring if the three minutes are up or not. When inside, I follow the sound of raised voices.

“How dare you invite that man into my house?” Lauren shrills. “Why can’t you just do as expected? I raised you, fed you, put a roof over your head, and this is how you treat me, by making a fool of me in front of my friends?”

I round the corner as she throws her arms out to the side. Hannah spots me, and I lean against the doorway. I’ll step in if I need to, but I want to give Hannah time to handle this.

“Why are you so ungrateful?” Lauren continues.

Hannah takes a few deep breaths, her eyes on me, and I breath with her. That small action seems to ground her a bit.

“This party was supposed to be to celebrate my marriage. I’m not sure why I wouldn’t be able to invite my friends or my father,” Hannah says, her voice coming out strong and steady.

“Do you really think your friends belong in this life? With my friends?” Lauren says on a huff.

“You mean to say that my polite and respectful friends don’t belong here? Or is it because they don’t all come from money the way you’ve married into it?”

Lauren’s head snaps back. “Don’t talk to me like that, young lady. Don’t forget your place. I brought you into this world, and I can take you out of it.”

Hannah shakes her head, and her arms flail at her side as tears start to gather in her beautiful hazel eyes.

“My friends are the family I’ve chosen. They’ve supported me for years. They are the ones who have been in my corner when you haven’t. They are the ones I’ve called after particularly shitty days in the ER when I’ve lost children or I’ve seen a woman come in with her spirit broken after she’s been raped. When I’ve been sick or needed a pick me up, they are the ones I’ve turned to, because I’ve learned that I can’t rely on you. You continuously taught me that unless I fit into this prefect little mould, you wouldn’t support me. Well, Mom. I’ve finally learned that lesson, and I think I’m better for it. I’m done. I don’t want this relationship anymore. I’d rather have Dad and my chosen family than someone as superficial as you. So tonight, when I leave with my husband, know that will be the last time you’ll see us. You’ve lost me.”

I’m beaming with pride as I watch Hannah speak her mind. My Spitfire has finally stood up to the one person she’s been so timid with. I walk up to Hannah and kiss her cheek before taking her hand and leading her to the backyard so we can say our goodbyes. Neither of us say a word to Lauren as we walk past.