Page 70 of Keeping You

“Grayson, after this week, we can share the fucking bed. You’re tired. Now get up and let’s go to bed.”

I’m tired and was not looking forward to sleeping on the couch again. I take her hand and push myself off the couch to follow her into the bedroom. She strips and climbs into the bed naked. I follow her lead and do the same. I wrap an arm around her waist and pull her back to my front, kissing her temple, and whisper, “Good night.”

She snuggles in, getting comfortable, and whispers back, “Good night.”

I wake up in the morning with Hannah sprawled across my chest. She stirs and looks up at me with a soft smile.

“Morning,” she says in her sleepy voice.

“Good morning,” I say and tuck her hair behind her ear.

She moves and stretches her arms above her head, and I slide out of bed and make a pot of coffee. After a few minutes, Hannah comes out wearing nothing but one of my T-shirts, and it’s one of the hottest things I’ve seen. Seeing her in my sweatshirt the other day had my heart almost beating out of my chest. I knewthen that seeing her in my clothing is something I want for the rest of my life, even if it’s something I can’t have.

I make her a cup of coffee and pass it to her before she settles in a chair at the table. I quickly whip up breakfast and join her.

“What are you doing today?” she asks.

“Not sure.”

She nods and continues eating.

I push through and try not to let my mood from yesterday bleed into today. “How about you?”

She smiles. “I’m going to head to Liv’s and spend some time with her and Cate.”

I force a smile and nod.

“I’ll be home for dinner, though,” she says.

When we finish eating, she cleans up the dishes, loads the dishwasher, and heads into the bedroom and changes. When she comes back out, she grabs her purse and keys and calls out goodbye before the door closes behind her. I settle back on the couch and put on the sports channel. I don’t even realize how much time has passed when my phone rings and I see Chloe’s face fill the screen. I slide my finger over and answer.

“Hey, Chlo.”

“Hey. How are you? I know you went and visited before you left yesterday.”

I sigh. I should have known she’d call and check in. Chloe’s a good sister that way, always making sure I’m okay even though I’m the older sibling.

“I’m fine. It was a normal visit.”

She’s the one to sigh this time. “So, you gave Hannah the cold shoulder your entire drive home then, and likely until this morning.”

I open my mouth then close it, because she’s right.

“Grayson, you know I love you, right?”

“Yeah.”

She takes a deep breath. “Good. Now I’m going to be brutally honest with you. You need to tell her. I know this is a big private thing for you, and that’s fine when it comes to your friends, but Hannah’s your wife. If you want her to stick around, if you want to stay married, you need to tear down that wall and tell her.”

“She deserves better,” I whisper.

“Oh, bullshit,” she spits. “You’re not giving yourself enough credit. I know that you gave Mom a list of ingredients for Hannah’s coffee, and when Hannah wouldn’t tell her what her favourite foods are, you told her. I saw the note you left beside the coffee maker with Hannah’s coffee order. I know you’ve been there for her when she’s needed you.”

“It’s not enough, Chloe,” I almost yell. Her words are tearing at me.

“Have you asked her what she wants and needs, or have you been sitting there making assumptions?”

A lump forms in my throat, because she’s right, I’ve assumed. But it’s all from things she’s said or things I’ve witnessed. I can’t be that far off.

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