My best friend chuckles and eyes me with disbelief. “Hate her all you want; the best sex comes after that. I’ve heard the two of you going at it.”
“I’m not fucking her,” I growl.
Ashton throws his arms up into the air. “Fine. But if you won’t give it to her, some other guy eventually will.”
I glare at Ashton and shove him forcefully. “My wife won’t cheat on me.”
“Not at first,” Ashton says, “but come on. If you’re expected to be married forever, are you telling me you’re never going to dip your stick in someone else’s honey pot?”
I can’t listen to Ashton.
I storm back into the house and come face-to-face with Harper.
She’s cradling Zeke against her chest, rubbing his back in soothing motions as he fidgets against her.
I recognize the older gentleman speaking with Mom, and then he steps over, examining Zeke in the hallway.
He’s a pediatrician, was my doctor and Nova’s when we were growing up. I’m a bit surprised the guy is still practicing medicine, but he could have been brought out of retirement at Dante’s insistence.
I step toward the wall, leaning against it for support as I watch the exchange.
Is something wrong with Zeke?
He uses his stethoscope to listen to Zeke’s heart and lungs. Then he checks his ears, nose, and throat with his special light.
“I’ll take a culture,” I overhear as he grabs his bag and retrieves a long cotton swab. He gets Zeke to open his mouth, grabs a sample, and then hands the kid a lollipop.
Zeke was incredibly fussy on the drive back here until he fell asleep. I just figured he hated being buckled into the car seat and was protesting.
The doctor says something, jots down some notes, and glances at the test strip with the culture. I can’t quite hear him. A few minutes pass, and then he scribbles down a prescription.
The pediatrician wanders back over to Nikki, exchanging a few pleasantries before she escorts him out.
“Everything okay with Zeke?” I ask, watching as he sucks on the lollipop, his eyes still red from crying and his cheeks tear-stained.
“Looks like he has strep,” Harper says. “The doctor just gave us a prescription for some antibiotics.”
I grab the prescription from her. “I’ll run out and get his medication,” I offer, heading for the front door.
“Luca, you don’t have to?—”
I’m gone before she can finish her sentence.
I need to get out, put some space between us. But when I get to the pharmacy, I realize I don’t know any of the information to fill the prescription.
What insurance does Harper have for Zeke?
What’s his date of birth?
Any allergies?
I’d call her, but my father still has her phone. He had one of his men grab it from the bus that she’d left it on.
I end up ringing Ashton, knowing that he’s still at the house. He’s not leaving without me, since I’m his ride back to campus.
“Where’d you run off to?” Ashton asks.
“Can you put Harper on the phone?”
