7. Hannah
HANNAH
I woke wrapped in warmth and the scent of cedar mixed with motor oil.
Grim's arm curved around my waist, his breath slow and even against my shoulder. Hank's soft snores drifted from somewhere near the foot of the bed.
I didn't move. Didn't want to disturb the quiet weight of this moment.
Last night had felt inevitable. Like everything leading up to it had been carefully stacked dominoes, and we'd finally let the first one fall. But morning had a way of bringing reality with it.
I eased out from under Grim's arm and found my dress crumpled on the floor.
Behind me, sheets rustled.
"Running out already?" His voice was rough with sleep.
"I have maid of honor duties." I smoothed the dress over my arm. "And you have a wedding to attend as my plus-one."
"So we're still doing that."
I turned. He'd propped himself on one elbow, the sheet pooled at his hips. Morning light traced the lines of his shoulders, the dark ink that covered his arms and chest.
"Unless you changed your mind."
"I didn't."
Something in my chest loosened.
"Good." I picked up my shoes. "I'll see you at the venue."
He sat up fully. "Hannah?—"
"We can talk after." I leaned over and kissed him. "Right now, I need to go help Lyra get married."
“I’ll be there.” He held my gaze as I backed out of his bedroom.
I was already running late.
Lyra's bridal suite smelled like hairspray and roses. Bridesmaids fluttered around her, adjusting her veil, touching up makeup, laughing at nothing. I hung back near the door, smoothing nonexistent wrinkles from my dress.
Lyra caught my eye in the mirror. She said something to the others, and they filtered out, still giggling. The door clicked shut behind them.
Silence settled between us. Not comfortable. Not easy.
"I'm sorry," Lyra said finally.
I crossed my arms. "For which part?"
"For not telling you about James." She turned on the cushioned stool to face me. "I should've been honest from the start."
"You should've trusted me to make my own decision."
"I know." She fiddled with the lace edge of her dress. "I just—I didn't want you to feel like you had to choose between being here for me or protecting yourself."
"That's my choice to make." I moved closer, perching on the arm of the velvet chair next to her. "Keeping it from me just made it worse. Like you thought I was too fragile to handle it."
"I didn't think you were fragile." Her voice cracked slightly. "I was scared you'd choose yourself over me. And I wouldn't have blamed you, but I needed you here."
Her “honesty hit hard.
“I would've come anyway." I reached for her hand. "But I would've been prepared. I wouldn't have walked in blind."
"I'm sorry," she said again, softer this time.
"I know."
She squeezed my fingers. "Are we okay?"
I thought about all the years we'd been friends. All the ways she'd shown up for me, even when James had tried to convince me she was dramatic or too much. One mistake didn't erase that.
"Yeah," I said. "We're okay."
Relief washed over her face. "Good. Because I need you to fix my veil. It's sitting weird."
I laughed and stood. "That's what I'm here for."
The ceremony took place under an arbor wrapped in white tulle and climbing roses.
I stood at the front next to the other bridesmaids, my bouquet clutched in both hands. James stood across from me in his black tux, his expression neutral.
He didn't matter. Not his presence. Not his opinions. Not his quiet criticisms disguised as concern.
The officiant started to speak, and I let my gaze drift to the guests.
Grim sat three rows back, his suit jacket unbuttoned, his arms crossed loosely. When our eyes met, something steady passed between us. No words. Just the weight of last night and this morning and whatever might come next.
My shoulders relaxed.
Lyra walked down the aisle on her father's arm, and I stopped thinking about James entirely.
The next two hours passed in a blur. Vows, kiss, recessional. Bridal party photos on the lawn. Family photos under the arbor. The extended group shot the photographer had to coax three uncles into standing still for.
James stood at my elbow through all of it, close enough that I could smell his pretentious cologne, and I felt nothing. Every time I looked up, Grim was nearby, waiting.
The reception sprawled across Willow Bend Ranch's back lawn. String lights crisscrossed overhead, tables scattered beneath them with wildflower centerpieces and flickering candles. A live band played near the dance floor, and laughter mixed with the clinking of glasses.
I'd survived the photos. The toasts. The required smiles beside James as maid of honor and best man.
Now I just wanted Grim. He stood near the bar, one hand in his pocket, watching the crowd with that quiet intensity he wore like armor. When he saw me heading his way, his expression softened.
"You looked good up there," he said.
"You looked comfortable in the back."
"I don't do crowds."
"But you came anyway."
"Yeah." His hand found the small of my back. "I did."
The band shifted into something slower. Couples drifted onto the dance floor, swaying underneath the lights.
"Dance with me," I said.
He didn't hesitate. Just took my hand and led me out.
This time, there was no pretending. No performance for James or anyone else. Just Grim's hand on my waist, my palm against his chest, and the easy rhythm of the two of us moving together.
"Thank you.” I reached up and adjusted his tie.
“For what?"
"For showing up. For staying."
His thumb brushed the base of my spine. "I'm not going anywhere."
I believed him.
With James, I'd spent years trying to make myself smaller. I'd second-guessed every choice, every outfit, every word, because nothing I did felt right unless he approved.
But standing with Grim… taking in his rough edges and gruff honesty and the way he looked at me like I made sense exactly as I was... I felt more like myself than I had in years.
The song ended. Another one started. We kept dancing.
"Hannah."
I turned.
Everett stood behind us, hands shoved in his pockets, tie loosened. He looked tired but grinned when he saw me.
"You made it," I said, pulling him into a hug.
"Barely. Wrapped up the meeting faster than I thought I could and drove straight through." He clapped Grim on the shoulder.
Grim's jaw tightened slightly, but he nodded.
Everett glanced between us. His grin faded.
"Can I talk to you?" he said to Grim.
"Yeah."
They stepped away from the dance floor, moving toward the shadowed edge of the lawn near the barn.
I stayed back, suddenly unsure.
Their voices carried faintly over the music. I didn't mean to eavesdrop. But I couldn't help catching fragments.
"...didn't ask you to get involved," Everett said.
Grim's response was quieter. I couldn't make it out.
"When I called you Friday morning, I asked you to keep her ex away." Everett's voice sharpened. "I didn't ask you to become the next man she has to get over."
My chest went cold.
"It's not like that," Grim said.
"Then what is it like?"
Silence.
"We should talk about this after the wedding," Grim said.
After.
Like this was something to postpone. To reconsider once the intensity of the weekend faded.
I turned and walked back toward the reception.
I found a table at the back and sat down, gripping my champagne glass tighter than necessary.
The band shifted into another slow song. Couples drifted onto the dance floor. I stared at the candle in the middle of my table and let Grim's line replay.
We should talk about this after the wedding.
Postponing. Deciding when we'd talk. Making a call about my situation without asking. He'd already promised in the barn yesterday that he was going to get better at that.
Then something else caught at me. Something Everett had said.
When I called you Friday morning.
I set the champagne down.
Grim had shown up at the cabin Friday around ten. Everett had called me at eight-thirty to say he couldn't come and Grim was coming instead. Which meant Everett had called Grim before eight-thirty Friday morning.
I pulled out my phone. Scrolled back to the thread I'd thought was my brother's all weekend. Found the message I sent Thursday night, and Grim's reply.
What time do you need me?
Sent at 10:03 PM Thursday.
Fourteen hours before Everett called him.
The blood left my face.
Grim hadn't come because Everett asked. Grim had already said yes — to messages he knew weren't meant for him — fourteen hours before Everett made the call.
I scrolled up. The drunk-crying line. The murder line. Wear the black suit, you look good in that one.
He'd read all of it. He'd known.
You're sure? Yes. Knowing everything.
Not knowing everything. He'd let me say that.
"Hannah."
I looked up. Grim was crouched beside my chair, his hand hovering like he hadn't decided whether to touch me.
"When did you know?" I asked. My voice was very steady, which surprised me. "Really."
He went still.
"Thursday night."
"Immediately?"
"Yes."
"You told me yesterday you suspected. You said you figured it out."
"I know."
"That wasn't true."
"It was partly true."
"Partly." I turned the phone face-up on the table, the thread still visible.
"You knew when I sent the first message.
You knew driving out to the cabin Friday morning.
You knew when you handed me water. You knew when you put your hand on my back in front of James.
You knew when you said I notice you. You knew last night when I told you I wanted this knowing everything. "
His jaw worked. He didn't look away.
"Yes."
"You said it in the barn yesterday. You should have asked instead of deciding." My throat was tight. Colder than tears, colder than shouting. "I told you, you were going to have to get better at that. And you already knew, while I was saying it, that you were doing it right then."
"Yeah." His voice had gone quiet. "I knew."
"I told you last night I wanted you knowing everything."
"Yeah."
"I didn't know everything. You did."
He didn't speak.
"I'm not going to be someone's mistake," I said. "Or their secret. Or the thing they had to keep from me for three days because it was easier than telling the truth."
"You're not any of those things."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
He opened his mouth. Closed it.
I stood.
"Take a couple days," I said. "Figure out whether you can be honest with me when it costs you something. Then decide if you want to try again."
I walked out of the tent.
Behind me, the band played something upbeat. People danced. Celebrated.
I made it to the parking lot before my hands started shaking.