Page 94 of The Refiner

And that was it—an anticlimactic ending.

“We appreciate your time, Arthur,” I say, putting an end to our meeting.

Taking Keagan’s hand in mine, I grab Tatum’s carrier with the other and we walk out to the parking lot, where Keagan’s car awaits her with her suitcase and boxes from Piper’s house.

“You don’t have to go today,” I tell her. Now that our time is ending, I’m growing more desperate.

Keagan turns, her face splotchy from crying. “Yeah, I do.”

Because if she stays, she might not leave.

Fuck it.

I’m not that same man I was before. My life has changed, and like Keagan, I don’t want any regrets. If Keagan never finds her way back to us at least I will have said what I needed to say. I won’t live with any more secrets between us.

“When I divorced Rebekah, I swore I would never get married again.” Keagan freezes, listening carefully. “I didn’t need a relationship to give me fulfillment. I could get that from my career. I could get it by focusing on making everyone else’s dreams come true. But I was wrong, Keys.”

I take her hand. “I was wrong because no matter how many goals I achieved, I had no one to share them with.”

Tears streak down her face. “Please,” she begs, “please don’t make this harder than it already is.”

“I don’t mean to,” I admit, “but I need you to know this before I give you time. I love you—and it’s not because you’re Piper’s sister or Tatum’s aunt.”

A sob wracks through her and she pulls away, putting space between us.

But it doesn’t matter, I’m going to get this out. “I love you because you always call me out on my shit. You’re beautiful and funny. And while you might think you’re mean, I don’t. Even in your darkest moments of pain, you pushed it aside for Piper, for Tatum, and even for me. The reason Piper loved you so much was not because you were related. It was because you brightened her entire life. I know because you did the same to mine. You keep saying I have a ‘hero mode,’ but it’s you who built the game. I am only a hero because you made me rise to even be worthy of your presence.”

Her body is shaking so hard. I want to go to her, but I know she’ll stop me.

“People might say one day that you stole me from Piper, but when they see us together, they’ll know it was me who stole you from the world. I’ve never loved anyone like I love you. So take your time. Find your answers. And whatever you decide, we’ll support you.”

Burying her face in her hands, Keys takes a few breaths, reining in the tears, before she looks at me. “And if I decide I can only be your friend?”

Nausea churns in my stomach. “Then we’ll be friends.” The words taste like acid, but I owe her this. I owe her time to decide on her own. It doesn’t matter if I’m certain Keys belongs by my side; it only matters if she wants to be.

“And if I just want to be Aunt Keys to Tatum?”

I grin. “Then you’ll be the best sucky Aunt Keys there ever was,” I confirm, throwing back the words she once said to me in the hospital.

“And if I want to come home to you and Tatum?”

Now, there’s an option I can fully support. “Then I’ll keep the ice packs stocked.” Because she will suffer for the agony she’s putting us through. When—notif—she comes back, I will make sure the only thing swollen is her pussy.

Keagan chokes on a laugh, finally smiling. “Don’t go falling in love with someone else, Dr. Potter. I might need time, but not time in a prison cell.”

Taking a step forward, I wrap my arms around the woman who’s brought out more emotions from me than I ever knew existed. “Goodbye, Keagan.”

And then I kiss her one last time.

Keagan

One month later…

“Ihate it here.”

Kenny pushes a margarita in front of me. “Well, fuck you too.”

“I didn’t say I hated you, Cry-Kenny. I very much still love you. I just miss them.”

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