Page 2 of Keeping You

I take a few deep breaths as Grayson leaves the washroom. Returning a minute later, he hands me an open bottle of water.

I offer him a weak smile as I say, “Thank you.”

He settles beside me on the floor, trying to ensure his towel stays closed. He plays with the wedding ring on his left hand before his head turns to me.

“You feeling better?” he asks.

Taking a small sip of the water, I nod. “Yeah. Thanks.”

Silence fills the small space, and it makes me want to crawl out of my skin.

Picking at the label on the water bottle, I ask, “What happened?”

He doesn’t say anything, and when I turn to look at him, he’s watching me. Different emotions I can’t decipher flicker across his face before he says, “I don’t know. I woke up this morning not remembering last night. When I went to my bag, I saw a marriage license with our names on it.” He continues to fidget with his ring.

In all the years I’ve known Grayson both at work and out, I’ve never seen him seem unsure. He’s always been so full of confidence that his behaviour has me watching his every move.

His shoulders are tight despite the fact I know he took a hot shower. The mirror is still fogged over and the air in here still has a bit of a sticky feeling to it.

“Okay, so we can get it annulled,” I say.

His entire body stiffens. As he opens his mouth to say something, a phone rings in the other room.

“Excuse me,” he says as he pushes off the floor, leaving the washroom.

I slowly push myself up and grab a towel, cleaning off some fog from the mirror. I can’t help but laugh to myself as I take in my dishevelled look. Mascara and eyeliner are smudged under my eyes, my lips still have a faint red tint to them, and my hair is a disaster.

I wet a washcloth and gently clean my face of the leftover makeup. I run my fingers through my hair before making myway to the bedroom. When I enter, Grayson is sitting on the end of the bed, tying his shoes. He looks up at me with a tentative smile.

“You could have told me I looked like shit,” I say.

He shakes his head quickly. “Hannah, you never look like shit. You look beautiful.”

His words surprise me, and I stand in the entryway of the room as I watch him pack his bag. Slinging it onto his shoulder, he stops and stares at me. He looks at me like he’s taking in every inch of me. My skin tingles as his eyes rake over my body slowly.

He clears his throat and says, “I’m really sorry, Hannah, but the hospital called and asked if there was any way I could come in for the evening shift tonight. I guess Dr. Brighton called in sick so they’re down a doctor. We can talk at home.”

I nod, not sure what to say. He closes the distance between us, hesitating before kissing my cheek and leaving the hotel room, the sound of the door closing signalling his departure. My hand comes up and touches my cheek. The spot tingles, like that feeling when you put cooling gel on your muscles, but it’s warm. I shake my head and drop my hand. Grayson’s behaviour this morning is so different from the last two years. I’m not sure what to do with that.

I walk over to the bed and sink into it. I run my hands over my face but stop when the feeling of something cool grazes the left side of my face. I look at my hand.

Those freaking rings.

I came to Vegas for a work conference with a man I can’t stand, and I’m leaving married to him. I’m not sure this could have gone any more wrong.

CHAPTER 2

Grayson

Ihave no idea how in the world I woke up this morning married to Hannah Smith. That gorgeous, snarky woman has hated me for almost two years, and I can’t blame her. I kept my mouth shut when everything went down back then, thinking it was better for both of us. Now, I have the time it takes for both of us to fly back to Vancouver to figure out what the hell I’m going to do about being married to her.

I twist the ring on my left hand as I sit in the Las Vegas airport waiting to board my flight. After the hospital called, I was able to change my flight and snag one of the last seats on the 10 a.m. flight.

I pull out my phone and text my buddy Caleb to let him know I’ve changed my flight, and he confirms he can still pick me up.

Locking my phone, I lean my head back against the wall. I lied to Hannah back at the hotel. I don’t entirely not remember last night. It’s only bits and pieces, and it’s mainly a blur, but there’s some there. I remember how stunning she looked as she walked down the aisle to me in a white dress with little green flowers on it. A slit came up to the middle of her thigh, andthe white-and-beige wedges she wore accentuated her long legs. Some guy dressed as Elvis married us. I remember her radiant smile as we stood there. I remember promising her forever, and I’m not one to break promises.

I’ve spent my entire life watching my parent’s marriage. I’ve heard them disagree and fight, but I’ve also watched them support each other through everything life has thrown at them. They’ve shown me that marriage is something you work and fight for. You don’t give up. This may not be how either of us imagined getting married—hell, I didn’t think I would ever get married—but we are, and I’m going to fight for it. Being married to Hannah Smith is a privilege I’m not going to let slip through my fingers easily.

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