Page 32 of Keeping You

“Spitfire.”

“What do you want me to call you? Sweetheart? Babe? Baby? Wife? Honey? Snookums? I’m quite partial to Spitfire, but I could also go with Mine.”

The way he growls the wordminehas me holding back a shiver. It’s possessive in all the right ways.

“Hannah is fine, thank you.”

“Spitfire it is.”

He takes a step back, and I scowl at his back until he disappears into the dressing room.

“He’s right, it suits you,” Liz says.

I throw my hands in the air and huff before crossing them over my chest. “Okay, what the actual fuck? You four”—I point at Olivia, Liz, Zoey, and Bailey—“are supposed to be on my side. You’re supposed to be my friends. Why are you siding with him?”

Eliza, the one who’s known me the longest, gives me a soft look. The look is so different from anything she’s ever given me that it has me slumping and crossing my arms over my chest.

“Oh, Han, don’t pout on me. I’m not picking Grayson’s side. I’m telling you the truth. I’ll always be on your side, no need to worry.” Liz smiles.

“Same,” Liv, Bailey, and Zoey say.

“Whatever,” I grumble.

Liv laughs and links her arm through mine. “Okay, Spitfire. Let’s get some food.”

I glare at her, but she just laughs in return. I know these girls are pushing my buttons on purpose to get a rise out of me, but I also know if I need anything, I could count on them. We grab a long table like usual and order drinks and food, Liv orders for Josh, Matt, and thankfully, Grayson while Bailey orders for Caleb. It’s not until the guys come up to join us that I notice how the girls strategically placed Bailey, Olivia, and I on the ends of the row, leaving empty seats at the head of the table for Josh and beside Bailey and me.

Grayson pulls out the chair beside me and the hair on my arms stands. He’s radiating an energy that has my entire body on fire. Once he sits, his arm goes around the back of my chair, his finger grazes across my shoulders, and I shiver. He leans over and whispers in my ear, “I know about the text to Matt. I’m going to get you back for that.”

I bite my lip as I lean forward in my seat, away from his touch. I cannot let this man affect me.

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” I whisper back.

He raises a single brow, and I know he sees right through my act. “Spitfire, you really think I don’t know it was you who sent a text to my friend about naked time? I got shit for that the second I walked into the dressing room. Just remember, payback’s a bitch.”

We join conversation around the table as we wait for the food to be delivered. The entire time, I feel assessing eyes on Grayson and me. I know everyone wants to know what’s going on. They want all the juicy details about our relationship, but there is no relationship. We cohabitate and work together. That is the extent of it.

“What are you guys doing for Canada Day?” Liz asks.

“We have the usual family neighbourhood party at my parents,” Liv says.

“I’m going with,” Zoey says. “The food is just to die for, can’t pass on that.”

Bailey looks over her shoulder at Caleb and then back to the group and shrugs. “I’m not sure.”

Caleb kisses her temple, and she melts into him. I lean back in my chair and can’t help the jealousy that rises in me every time I see the simple acts of affection between my friends and their partners. I’m so incredibly happy for them. I couldn’t be happier that they are with people who love and worship them. But I’m starting to wonder if I’ll ever find that love. Will I ever find someone who loves every part of me the way Caleb loves Bailey and Josh loves Olivia?

Grayson’s eyes burn into the side of my face as he watches me. His thumb brushes the back of my arm, and I stiffen. It continues to move in soothing strokes up and down. I can’t explain it, but it helps. My body loosens, and my jealousy starts to fade. It pisses me off that I react to him like this, but it’s like I just can’t help it.

“I’m going to spend the week at my parents,” Grayson says, and everyone’s eyes land on me.

Liz beams at us. “Oh, Hannah, that sounds fun. It will be a great way for you to get out of your mom’s insane party. She can’t fault you for visiting family, right?”

I never thought of that. Going to my mom’s party alone will not be fun. Spending an entire week with Grayson in a small town with his family can’t be any worse. Plus, it might be nice to get away from the city.

“I’ll need to see if I can get the time off of work. Nothing’s decided yet,” I say.

Olivia rolls her eyes. “Hannah, when was the last time you took more than one or two days of vacation? Take the time, the other nurses can cover for you. You do it enough for them, it’s time for them to pay it forward.”

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