Page 78 of The Refiner

I’m forced to walk, so I don’t squish Tatum between me and the cart, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a parting remark for Ms. Cuntbunny. No one gets away with being mean to my Dr. Potter.

“Agreed,” I tell her with a smile, “always a pleasure, Twat.”

She gasps and covers the toddler’s ears, giving Astor a disappointed look. “Maybe you should spank me,” I tell him. “I think she’s under the impression you care that she’s insulted.”

At that, Ms. Thang scurries off with a harumph that Astor and I ignore.

I hear Astor’s sigh, and you know what? I don’t have time for it. “Do not even act scandalized back there. You are a doctor, I’m sure you’ve had to give someone a hard diagnosis before.”

His front presses closer to my back and I feel his heat everywhere as he leans down, his breath cresting over my neck. “And her diagnosis was that she was a twat?”

I can’t tell if I groan at the closeness or the taunting behavior. Either way, my head goes back, resting against his chest. “Stage four, I’m afraid. Someone had to tell her.”

“I see.”

That’s the only warning I get before I feel the pressure of his lips in my hair, placing a kiss to the top of my head. For a moment, we both pause in the middle of the aisle.

“I think it’s time you knew the whole story,” he finally says.

“Rebekah is my ex-wife.”

Astor

“Whoa. Back up.”

I was impressed Keagan made it home without asking any questions. As a matter of fact, she changed Tatum and helped me put the groceries away, before she popped open a bottle of wine, chugging straight from it before passing it to me.

“So you were married, and grocery store twat is none other than the baby shower bitch?” She snorts, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “You’ve gotta be kidding me. It was her baby shower Piper and I went to a couple of years ago?”

I nod, passing the wine back. “I need something stronger to finish this conversation.”

“You damn sure do because I want to know why in the fresh red hell you needed a hug at this bitch’s baby shower.”

I cut her a scathing look. “I didn’t need a hug.”

Grabbing the bottle of bourbon from the cabinet, I pour two fingers worth and down it in one go as Keagan continues talking. “I’m sorry. You needed support or whatever word Piper used back then.”

“I didn’t need the support either, but I appreciated Piper coming nonetheless.”

Keagan rounds the island and comes to stand in front of me. “If she’s your ex-wife, why were you at her baby shower? I know it wasn’t because she was the sweetest during your marriage.”

At first, I think of lying and giving her the same story I gave my brothers: I was never home. She was lonely, and we parted on mutual terms.

But I promised Keagan the truth. Up until now, only her sister knew the true story.

“Because for months I thought the baby was mine.”

Keagan sucks in a breath. “She cheated on you?”

I nod tightly.

“And lied and told you the baby was yours?”

Even thinking about it brings back the embarrassment. “There’s more to it than that,” I admit, not to protect Rebekah’s reputation, but so Keagan knows how her sister became involved.

“I’m listening.” Keagan grows quiet, walking into the living room and taking a seat in one of the chairs.

I follow, growing more uncomfortable by the minute. Keagan and I’ve shared a lot of things, but nothing as personal as this is about to get. “Rebekah and I were married for two years before you and I met at the baby shower.”

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