Page 22 of Breaking Storm

To the bartender, he says, “Two shots of Jack.”

With the shots in front of us, I down mine before Sean even picks his up. He swallows it, remaining by the bar as I leave. I’m about to go to the other side of the yard when I hear shouting. It’s Teagan. Sean eyes me and we both jog over to the noise.

Fuck! Katie’s here.

She’s in Teagan’s face. “Joey’s mine, you skank! He’ll always belong to me. Married or not, I’m here, and I’ll still fuck him.”

Teagan pushes her. “Yeah, you’re a side piece. Not even good enough for the full amenities.”

Katie attempts to grab Teagan’s hair, but Teagan’s arm pulls back, and she punches her in the face.Holy shit!The girl has bite. Katie is holding her cheek, screaming smack about Teagan’s mom, what a whore she is, and Teagan roundhouse kicks her in the stomach. I’m floored she can fight and wonder who taught her. Pre-occupied by her abilities, I don’t notice the knife Katie pulls from her pocket, slicing across the top of Teagan’s left breast.

Sean clamps down on Katie’s wrist while I scoop Teagan in my arms and carry her to the washroom. She and Katie toss out insults and curses.

Over my shoulder, Teagan yells, “Psycho bitch!”

Katie fires back, “Slut! Everyone hates you!”

I close the washroom door with my foot and sit her on the vanity to get a better look at the damage. Teagan recoils, but I slide her closer, examining the cut. One arm holds her in place while I scavenge through the cabinets for a towel I can wet to clear the blood away. Finding one, I dab at the slice on her upper breast as she faces the door. It’s too deep for a bandage.

“You’re going to need stitches.”

She shrugs. “I didn’t fight her because of you. You can fuck whoever you want.”

“Where’d you learn to fight like that?”

“Ashton. He enjoys boxing, so he showed me some punches. And some from Sean.”

Sean again. He’s loyal to a tee. But there are too many incidents, too much closeness for me not to question their relationship. Teagan is beautiful. Guys from the neighborhood wanted her. They even placed bets on who would sleep with her first. None of them panned out. Anyone from the streets had no chance. She dismissed all advances, and come high school, stayed out of sight. Teagan made a niche of a life outside our upbringing. I envied her for it. I place my arms on each side of her, bring my face near hers, and lock eyes.

Her eyebrows dip downward. “She was in my face, so I pushed her. Then she starts talking shit about my mom.”

Our lips are close. An inch forward, and they’d touch. Maybe another time, if things are better, I’d pounce on the opportunity. Right now, I have a gouged ego, and a woman hell-bent on keeping me at a distance. Teagan’s head turns sideways, and I step away, leaning against the door, folding my arms.

“We need to get you to the doctor.” She tries to grab the towel from my hand, but I toss it to my other one. “Come on. Sean will take us.”

I open the door, press the towel against her, and pick her up. She tells me to put her down, and yet I’m enjoying her in my arms. Sean is about to open the front door until we hear Katie coming from behind.

He moves between us, and she cries, “Joey.”

Over my shoulder, I shout, “Enough, Katie!”

She reaches for me and strokes my shoulder, crying, “Please! We can still—”

Instead of responding, I walk out of the house, Teagan in my arms, and Sean trotting behind. We drop Teagan off at the doctor’s office—our family’s private doctor. He’s taken care of me my whole life, and he’s an honest man. I’m not sure how he got mixed up with James, and I don’t care. Sometimes not knowing is best.

The office isn’t far from North Avenue Beach, so I walk in that direction. Sean sidles up next to me. Teagan’s blood is on my hands, so I bury them in my front pockets. The woman is a fighter in mind and body. On the beach, sand funnels inside my shoes. The waves curdle against the sand.

Sean clears his throat and says, “Talk to me, Joey.”

I stop to face him. My anger at the unknown pierces my heart, so it’s time to come clean. “Are you fucking Teagan?”

His entire face flames red, eyes widen, and he doesn’t hesitate when he says, “What the hell are you talking about?”

I’m pissed. Images of him and Teagan blast into my memory. Him hugging her. Carrying her on his back. Teagan laughing at his jokes. Their not-so-discrete hikes to the park or anywhere else they disappear to. I take my hands out of my pockets and pump them into fists.Pump. Release. Pump. Release. I shove Sean hard enough for him to stumble back a little.

Pointing at myself, I say, “She’s my wife, Sean.”

He comes at me. Fists in front of his face, he takes a swing, but I duck and land an uppercut to his side. Sean sidesteps me, fakes a kick, and gets me in a headlock. We stumble and fall on the sand. My elbow jams into his side, and I bring my head back, smashing into his face. He releases me, holding his nose and spitting blood.

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