Page 12 of Keeping You

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.

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