Page 56 of Keeping You

“Careful,” she whispers.

I place a few more kisses on her shoulder. “Of?”

She releases another contented sigh as my lips continue trailing over her skin. “You’re starting to convince me you’re not as bad as I thought.”

Her words drop like a weight in my stomach, reminding me how I made her feel all because I knew she deserved better than me.

I spin her until she’s facing me and cup her face. “I think we should talk and clear some things up, because I need you to know some things.”

She worries her bottom lip between her teeth and nods slightly. I kiss her forehead and spin her back around to rinse the conditioner out of her hair. Wrapped in towels, we head back to the room. I climb into bed and Hannah follows suit. I pull her into my side, needing her close when I finally tell her the truth.

She trails her fingers over my chest as I run my fingers through her hair, working myself up tell her.

“I’ve never slept with Samantha.”

Her fingers stop, and she lifts her head and looks at me. She doesn’t say anything, but her eyes bore into me. She adjusts herself to face me better and asks, “What do you mean?”

I swallow harshly. “That night you walked in on Samantha kissing me in the supply closet was just that. She kissed me. I pushed her off as soon as I could, but I guess it was too late, because you had already walked in. I tried to catch up to you, to talk, but you were gone. I decided it was for the best. You deserved better, so I wasn’t going to try and explain it to you.” I run a hand over my face. “I wanted you to be happy, and I didn’t think you would be with me, so if that meant you hating me andfinding someone who could give you everything you want and deserve, I could live with that. For you.”

She stares at me, mouth agape, as a tear falls down her cheek. She wipes at it furiously before she falls back on the bed and stares up at the ceiling. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. I brush the stray hairs on her face back and tuck them behind her ears.

“You okay?” I ask.

She nods. “Yeah.” Her voice comes out soft, and I brush my thumb over her cheek. She leans into the touch, and I smile softly. She opens her eyes, and I can’t read the emotions swimming in them. She lets out a slow breath.

“You let me hate you.” A tear falls down her cheek, and I wipe it away. “You did that for me?”

“Yeah, I did that for you.”

Her eyes bounce all over my face. “Why?”

I kiss her cheek and whisper, “You’ll figure it out,” before pulling her into me and closing my eyes to sleep.

CHAPTER 21

Hannah

Iwake up in the morning sprawled across Grayson’s naked chest, his arm wrapped around me. My mind is still reeling after last night and the bombshell he dropped on me. I’m not sure how the hell I’m supposed to process it. I do know I need to talk to the girls.

I slowly slide out of Grayson’s hold and wrap myself in his robe before making my way downstairs, pouring a cup of coffee, and making my way to the back deck. Confirming I’m the only one out here, I settle in a chair and text the group chat.

Han

I need help!

Liv

Are you okay?

Han

Physically, yes.

Liz

Mentally?

Han

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