Page 27 of Keeping You

I will not cry. Even though her words hit home, I will not let anyone here see.

Grayson stays glued to my side as we move around the party talking to people. Everyone asks questions about our marriage and how it happened. My mother’s friends have always been the biggest group of gossips. We keep it simple: we’ve known each other for years, but when our friends started dated, we couldn’t help but grow closer and took advantage of the opportunity in Vegas. Only when I need to use the washroom does Grayson leave me.

As I’m leaving the washroom, my mother corners me and forces me into the kitchen, where there are no guests.

“You owe me an explanation,” she hisses.

“About?”

She rolls her eyes, something she’d never let someone else see her do. “Your marriage, of course. Don’t be daft.”

“I married Grayson while we were in Vegas a few weeks ago.”

She purses her lips. “And why did you get married in Vegas? Why couldn’t you have let me throw you a wedding here? Why did you have to take that away from me?”

“Mother, it was my wedding. I didn’t want a big to-do about it.” If she knew me at all, she’d know that’s a lie. I want the pretty white dress and the friends and family. My dad to walk me down the aisle. The bridesmaids and bouquet toss. The first dance. But of course she doesn’t really know me.

She purses her lips harder, gives me a head-to-toe look, and says, “And what are you wearing? You could have put some effort into yourself today. Your hair looks flat, your eyebrows need to be plucked, your dress needs to be steamed, and could probably be a size bigger, so it wasn’t so tight. You don’t need to flaunt all your assets.”

“Okay, that’s enough.” Grayson’s voice cuts across the kitchen.

I turn and see him standing at the entrance to the kitchen with his arms crossed over his chest as he gives my mother the nastiest look. If I looked at her like that, I wouldn’t be surprised if she slapped me across the face.

“First of all, it was my idea to get married in Vegas, not hers. She indulged me. Secondly, your daughter is stunning. She just came off working two twelve-hour night shifts and took only a short nap before she got herself ready to be here at your behest. So why don’t you apologize to her, and we’ll be on our way. She needs to rest after the grueling shift she worked last night.”

I’ve never seen Lauren Rivers look as shocked and embarrassed as she does right now, and it brings me great joy. She gives me a very fake apology before Grayson grabs my hand and leads me to the entryway. We say goodbye to Richard before we make our way to the car.

Grayson unlocks it, but instead of opening the door, he starts pacing, anger radiating off him.

“Grayson,” I start, but within seconds he has me trapped against the car, hands on either side of me, caging me in. His chest is heaving as he stares at me.

“Tell me not to. Tell me not to go back in there and give your mother another piece of mind. No one gets to talk to you like that. Ever.”

I’ve never wanted to melt for a man before, but I do right now. My traitorous fucking body. I’m supposed to hate this man.

His body shakes with anger.

I reach up and cup the side of his face. “Grayson, thank you. Thank you for standing up for me.” My thumb strokes his cheek. “Can you please just take me home. I’d like to stuff my face with ice cream, watch a stupid rom-com, and take a nap.”

He stops shaking, and his features soften as he nods.

He reaches behind me and opens the passenger door, helping me in. I let him do the buckle for me before he rounds the carand drives off. He stops at a grocery store and says he’ll be right back. When he comes out fifteen minutes later, his arms are full of bags.

At home, he drops the bags on the kitchen counter and says, “Okay, so we have five different flavours of ice cream, mint chocolate chip, cherry, cookie dough, pralines and cream, and rocky road. Three different types of chips, regular, BBQ, and Doritos. A bottle of wine and some pizza pockets and tater tots. What do you want first?”

I can’t help but smile. “Pizza pockets, tater tots, and a giant glass of wine.”

He grins. “Coming right up. Why don’t you pick a movie and I’ll be right in.”

I settle on the couch, grabbing a throw blanket, and pull upWhat Women Want. We spend the rest of the day like that. At one point, my feet end up in Grayson’s lap as his thumb works up the instep. He eventually moves up to my calves and works silently as the movie plays. I don’t know when, but I eventually fall asleep.

CHAPTER 10

Grayson

Icarry Hannah to bed, tucking her in and plugging in her phone before I head back to the couch. Seeing Hannah with her mom today was a lot. I grew up with parents who loved and supported my sister and me through everything. I can’t understand having a toxic parent like Lauren. Thanking me for gifts brought by Hannah pissed me off, but to pull Hannah aside and lay into her about superficial things like the way she looks pushed me over the edge. Hannah is absolutely gorgeous. I’ve always known she’s way out of my league. I was stunned when she agreed to a date two years ago.

I knew Hannah didn’t have a good relationship with her mom. I just never understood the extent. The entire time we were in that house, Hannah had that brick wall up. Her smile was fake, and she was on edge. I know it won’t be easy, but I need to find a way to convince her to cut off her mom. If Lauren can’t support the amazing woman that Hannah is, she doesn’t deserve to be in her life.

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