Page 64 of Keeping You

“Did you have fun cooking with Mom?”

She leans into me more, and I hold her close. “Yeah. I never got to do that with my mom. It was nice.”

I lean in and kiss her temple. “I’m glad.”

I soak up every moment of holding her like this, knowing once we leave here, things will probably go back to the way they were before. She gets up, and I follow her inside.

CHAPTER 23

Hannah

After breakfast, Chloe offers to take me on a tour of town. I change into a pair of denim shorts, a tank top, and runners before meeting her out front. When we get in her car, country music blares from the speakers. She turns down the music and pulls out of the driveway. I watch the trees that line the driveway disappear as we turn onto the road. She heads in the same way Grayson took us when we went downtown for the Canada Day celebration. She pulls into a parking lot at the far end of Main Street and parks. When we get out, Lennon, Aspen, and Brinley are waiting for us.

They smile broadly, and we all exchange hugs before we start walking down the street. It’s full of the same small town charm I saw earlier in the week, but this time the shops are open and people are walking and popping in and out of different stores. We pass a store that has trinkets in the window and tourist items inside. I pull open the door and head inside. The girls follow as I make my way through the store, stopping to look at the different cheesy items.

I find myself in front of the magnet display and grab one that readsWillow Valleyover an expansive open landscape. I grab a keychain as well and make my way to the checkout. The lady behind the counter is in her fifties, with her greying brunette hair pulled back.

“You visiting?” she asks as she inputs the items in her old-school cash register.

“Yeah. We’re visiting my husband’s family,” I say.

“Oh, how nice. Who are you married to?”

“Grayson Maxwell.”

She pauses for a second before she puts the items in a bag. “So, you must be Hannah. I’ve heard so much about you.”

I feel Chloe come to my side. “Yes, I am.”

“Hi, Chloe, dear. I was just telling Hannah here how much I’ve heard about her. You must be happy to have a new sister.”

Chloe links her arm with mine. “I am. We do have plans, though, Mrs. Simpson.”

“Oh yes, dear. Your total is $11.50.”

I tap my card on her machine and take my bag before Chloe leads me out of the store. When we’re outside, I look over my shoulder at the door we just left through.

“Word sure does travel fast here,” I say.

Chloe gives my arm a squeeze and says, “Don’t let them scare you off.”

Lennon falls into step beside us. “Chloe’s right. Don’t let them scare you. There’s not a lot to do in town, so people tend to gossip. You eventually get used to it.”

A small laugh escapes me. “Well, I’m not sticking around town, so I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to the gossip. It’s like high school on steroids.”

The girls laugh, and we continue our way down the street when Brinley grabs my hand and pulls me into a store. I try and turn around as soon as I see what kind of store it is, but Brinleyholds on tight and pulls me further into the lingerie store. The entire store is wall-to-wall panties, bras, baby dolls, anything sexy you could imagine wearing, and more. Brinley does a quick head-to-toe of me before she starts grabbing different items off the racks. I turn to look at the rest of the girls, and they’re trying to hold in their laughs.

Help!I mouth.

“Honey, you’re just gonna have to let Brinley do her thing. She’s done this to all of us at one point.”

We follow Brinley as she sorts through items, pulling off specific pieces before moving on to the next. Her hands are full by the time she comes to me and thrusts it all in my direction.

“Ummmm,” I say.

“Go try it on.”

I stare at the large pile, things I’ve never seen before in there. She grabs me by the shoulders and shoves me in the direction of the dressing room. I start with the simplest item. It’s a red lace demi-bra with matching panties and garters. I go for the black pantyhose she wants me to wear with them, too. When I get everything on, I stare at myself in the mirror, and Goddamn, do I look fucking hot.

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