Page 31 of Keeping You

“Don’t jump to any conclusions,” Liz says. “You don’t know what exactly they were talking about. Talk to Grayson about it. It might have been completely innocent.”

I roll my eyes, hard. “Grayson has always been a player. I’m not sure how being married to me is supposed to stop that. It’s not like he’s getting anything from me. So why wouldn’t he go get it somewhere else? And why not somewhere familiar like Samantha?”

Liz looks away quickly as she runs her teeth over her bottom lip. That’s unlike her. She’d usually say what’s on her mind if she thought I needed to hear it, but she’s holding back.

“What is it Liz?”

She looks at me for a second before saying, “I really think you should talk to him.”

“Why?”

She lifts a shoulder. “Han, he’s your husband.”

Why is she standing up for him? She’s supposed to be my best friend.

“In law only. The minute the ninety days are over, I’m done. Peace out. You know I want to be in a marriage with someone I love and who loves me. I’m not going to be my mother.”

She flinches before composing herself. “I would never say you’re like Lauren. You know that. I just think that you could clear a lot of this up with a conversation.”

Ugh. I’m so frustrated. Why can’t she just say fuck him and commiserate with me? Instead, she’s got to be all reasonable. Baby Cate whines in the carrier Liv is holding her in, and I reach for her.

“Aunty Hannah needs some baby time to recover from all this,” I say, and Liv helps take her out and put her in my arms.

I stand and bounce her as she stares up at me, all smiles. She is the cutest little baby. She is the perfect little mix of her mom and dad, with Josh’s green eyes and lips that will for sure look like her mom’s. I turn to walk with her and stop when I see Grayson walking towards us. He looks down at Cate in my arms and back to my face, and the look that crosses his face is pained. He says nothing as he passes me and steps onto the ice for the game.

Every time Grayson looks at me while I’m holding Cate, pain flashes across his face. Once I pass Cate back to Liv, the look leaves his face. He’s been good with Charlie and with Cate, so why does seeing me hold her cause that reaction?

I’m in my head the entire game, trying to process everything. I wish this was all as simple as saying I’ll never see Grayson again and everything will be fine, but I’m legally tied to him and even after I get our marriage annulled, he’s best friends with my friends’ husbands. I will never be able to just walk away and dust my hands of him.

The guys win, and when they come off the ice, Luke makes his way to me. He smiles at me, and I smile back.

“Hey, Hannah.”

“Hey, Luke.”

He grips the back of his neck and says, “So, about last time. I had no idea you and Grayson were even a thing, let alone married. I apologize for crossing a line.”

I reach out and grip his arm and squeeze. “Luke, it’s all good. I hadn’t told anyone yet. Grayson was just—” I pause, notknowing how to describe what he was. I wave a hand in front of me. “It’s fine. Really.”

He smiles again, and his hand grabs mine that’s still resting on his arm and squeezes it back.

“Luke.” Grayson’s voice carries over the crowd.

We both turn and look at Grayson staring at us, rage filling his expression. Even from twenty feet away, I can feel the anger radiating off him.

“Grayson, nothing is happening. He apologized. That’s all.”

Grayson stalks towards us, and we both drop our hands. “Luke, make another move on my wife and we’re going to have some serious problems.”

I give Grayson’s arm a slap. “Grayson Maxwell, stop it. He was not making a move. He was merely apologizing for last time. Now stop being an asshole and go change. You reek.”

Grayson stares me down before leaning close, his breath dusting over the shell of my ear. Goosebumps erupt over my neck and down my arms.

“I don’t share. Keep this up, and I might need to teach you a lesson when we get home. You are mine, Spitfire. Don’t forget it.”

“Don’t call me that,” I hiss.

“What?” He grins.

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