I exited the kitchen with the tea glasses and set them on coasters on the coffee table. Milan stared at her glass like I had just plopped a giant, hairy tarantula in front of her. “What is that?” she asked, wrinkling her perfect nose.

“Um, iced tea,” I said, trying to keep the duh, bitch from coming through in my voice.

The woman looked up at me sympathetically, like I was a moron or something. “I meant hot tea, darling. Don’t you have any real tea?” She took a tentative sip, and her lips pursed in disgust. “I don’t see how you Southerners drink this mess,” she said, her voice dripping with condescension as she put the glass down directly on the coffee table, ignoring the coaster right the fuck in front of her.

Expecting Axel to tell her to not be such a rude bitch, I turned my eyes toward him. “Babe, I think there’s some Twining’s up in the cabinet from when my mom visited last time.” Okayyyy, so I’m apparently the fucking maid now.

I went back into the kitchen and started making some goddamn hot tea for Miss Priss. When it was ready, I took the plain, white teacup out to the living room and put it directly on the coaster, drawing Milan’s derisive glance. Axel’s cups aren’t fancy enough for you, bitch? Then why don’t you take your ass back where you came from.

“Hmmm, do you have some lemon, darling?” she asked, blinking her big fake eyelashes at me. I took the slice of lemon off her glass of iced tea and plunked it down into her teacup.

“There you go,” I said sweetly before snatching up the iced tea, sloshing a bit over the rim as I stalked back toward the kitchen.

“Would you happen to have any scones?” she asked my back.

“Nope,” I replied without turning around. Scones? Who the fuck has scones sitting around just in case some snooty floozy drops by your home to try and steal your man?

I listened at the door for a while, but their voices were too low to hear what they were saying at first. Then I heard Milan’s unmistakable whine say, “But Ax, baby, I thought I could stay here with you.”

Oh, hell the fuck no! I was about to call Beau and ask to borrow a firearm.

“I really don’t think that’s a good idea. I live here with Blaire and my daughter now.”

“But I’m having your babyyyy.”

I heard Axel say coaxingly, “I’ll put you up at a nice hotel. There’s one near here, and you’ll probably be more comfortable there, okay?” He was going to pay for her hotel? Mother of Pearl! At least he didn’t let her stay here, was my only consoling thought.