Page 16 of Done with You

“Is that your professional diagnosis, Dr. McRobb?”

Teal smirked. “Obviously, you told him you couldn’t treat him.”

“Of course. He didn’t even sit down. I opened the door, and once I got over the shock of seeing him again, I told him I ethically couldn’t see him as a patient. But—”

“He showed you why he’s in anger management?”

She exhaled. “Yep.” She buried her face in her hands. “But only after I made the colossally stupid mistake of asking him out again.”

“You didn’t.”

She peeked at Teal between her fingers. “I did.”

The kettle let them know it was at a full boil. Teal got up and didn’t even bother to ask what Oona wanted. Her answer would always be the same. Earl Grey, no sweetener, a splash of oat milk, and leave in the teabag.

Teal handed Oona the mug of Earl Grey, then blowing on their own mug, which would undoubtedly have raspberry rooibos in it, sat down in their chair again. “And he shot you down?”

“Yep, then said I was bad in bed, just to drive that stake a few inches deeper into my chest.”

“Ouch.”

Oona merely raised her brows to agree.

“You did the right thing, though. Know that. Because regardless of our friendship, if I found out you were sleeping with, or had slept with a client whom you continued to treat, I’d be ethically obligated to report you.”

“I know.”

Teal offered a grim, understanding smile. “Doesn’t mean it hurts any less.”

“Nope.”

They both blew on their tea before taking cautious sips and letting Oona’s issues percolate through their analytical minds in companionable silence.

Teal had been born into a very religious and traditional Korean family in New York, their birth name, or, in this case, now, dead name was Ju-Won, which ironically means beautiful woman.

They laughed about it now. How their parents just set themselves up with naming their child that, even though they tried with all their might to shape Teal into the person they wanted them to be. Forcing them to wear the girliest dresses imaginable, go to church, and worship a God that considered Teal’s existence a sin.

Teal was set up on dates by their mother with Korean boys whose families went to their church and drank the same bigot-flavored Kool-Aid. Teal often said that their upbringing was a lot like Lane’s from Gilmore Girls, only instead of harboring a love for punk music, they harbored a love for girls, ska music, and pantsuits.

They came out as gay to their family at eighteen and were instantly shunned. Teal had not spoken to their parents in almost twenty years. Not even their siblings. And even though they pretended it didn’t bother them, Oona knew that it did. Oona knew that the pain was still deep and the scars would probably never fully heal.

Teal revealed that they were nonbinary around the age of twenty-three, and married their long-time girlfriend, Penelope, when they were both twenty-six. Penelope was cis-gender, identifying as female and using the pronouns she/her. And, oh wow, was she ever a girly girl. A kindergarten teacher and maker of homemade soap, Penelope wore dresses almost every day. Often ones with flowers and or lace. She had long blonde hair down her back and even her laugh was like a little bird tittering. But she and Teal made a beautiful couple. And Penelope’s family was extremely accepting and open-minded. They welcomed Teal into the McRobb fold with open arms. Called Teal their Dr. In-law. Which was why Teal took Penelope’s last name when they got married. Teal wanted nothing to do with their former life or family.

And now, Teal was a very successful psychologist, specializing in therapy geared toward those in the LGBTQAI2+ community, those going through transition, and their family members who required a bit more support to understand.

They also kept their hair color a cool shade of blue, usually teal or aquamarine, but sometimes, they’d mix it up and went with cobalt or navy.

After a full five minutes of silence where the two of them were just sitting there blowing on their tea and taking gingerly sips, Oona finally let one of those birds of prey fly off her shoulders. “I liked him.”

“I know you did. You wouldn’t have put yourself out there like that if you didn’t. You also wouldn’t be sitting here with that scrunched up look on your face if there wasn’t more to this story.”

“But his reaction just confirmed why I never put myself out there anymore. The rejection just hurts too much. And to be called bad in bed …”

Teal pressed their lips together and hummed. “Well, it sucks for sure. But you have to look at this as an opportunity for learning and growth. We all have clients that we have to eventually decline for one reason or another. Yours just happened to be because you slept with him. And I highly doubt you’re bad in bed. Maybe a little rigid … but,” they shrugged, “maybe not. I’ve never had sex with you, so I wouldn’t know. But I have been to your shows, and based on how flexible you are and how high you can lift your legs, I highly doubt you’re bad in bed.”

Oona groaned.

“The sex was good, wasn’t it?”

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