Page 23 of Breaking Storm

“What the fuck, Joe? What’s gotten into you?”

I pace in front of him like a caged lion. My hands tug at my hair. “Teagan and you.” I thrust my finger in his direction. “That’s what’s gotten into me.”

He swipes at his nose, wiping the blood on his shirt, while I stand with my hands on my hips. “I’m sick and tired of seeing the two of you talking, laughing, and having fun.”

Sean is even more pissed as he shouts, “Because you won’t even talk to her! Asshole!”

I punch the air, and say, “Because she hates me!” Bending at the waist, I anchor my hands on my thighs to take a deep breath. “After what happened on our wedding night, I don’t blame her, but…” My back straightens, and I look at him. “I thought giving her space would help. Instead…” I throw my arms up. “Instead, I drove her into your arms.”

For a moment, he’s frozen, and then he laughs. Laughs at my misery. I kick sand at him, which increases his laughter, and he buckles over.

“I’m glad you find this amusing.”

Sean points at me, humor drumming against his chest. He smacks himself to calm the excitement and shakes his head. “It is funny. If you only knew…”

“Knew what?”

He turns serious, gazing out onto the lake, and runs his hands across his mouth. “Teagan and I are just friends. She needs someone to talk to because you won’t.” Over his shoulder, he adds, “She doesn’t have anyone else.”

I stand next to him, both of us fixated on the water. “So, you’re not fucking her.”

“Uh, no. She’s not my type.”

With a quick sideways glance, sarcasm drips as I ask, “Really? What is your type?”

“You.”

The seagulls squawk above. Water slaps the sides of a pier. People run around in the background. But the word that buries everything around us isyou. All I hear isyou.

In slow motion, my head pivots in his direction. “What?”

“I’m gay, Joe.”

“How?” He cocks his eyebrow at me. “I mean, how did I not know?”

Sean gazes back at the lake. “Because in our environment, it gets you killed.”

My entire body is facing him. I’m disturbed by the fact I hadn’t figured it out or he didn’t tell me. Through the years, women flocked to Sean. He had collected a number of beautiful women, yet none stayed long enough to bother learning their names. I figured he didn’t want a relationship.

I’m stammering when I ask, “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

He lets out a humorless laugh. With his hands on his hips, he says, “Because while you were crushing on Teagan, I was crushing on you.”

My mouth opens and closes like a guppy. What do you say to that?

Sean swats the air. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Of course, it matters.”

He places a hand on his chest. “Are you kidding me? You have a problem—”

“No, I don’t have a problem with you being gay. But it’s something…” I gesture toward him. “… you should pursue.

Sean’s laughter rides on the wind. It lacks intensity. “Pursue.” His eyes set on me. “Did you not hear what I said?” My face crumples from confusion. I don’t understand why he’s mad or what he means. “Let me make this simple. My type isyou. I’ve been crushing on you for as long as we’ve known each other.” He holds up a finger. “No, crushing’s the wrong word. I’ve been in love with you. So, pursue…” He shifts away, taking a slow gulp of air. “Yeah, not a possibility.”

My hands scrub my face. I clasp them on top of my head and release a breath through clenched teeth. My best friend is in love with me. Has been since we were kids, and I never had an inkling. Not that it would have changed anything. Or maybe it would have when we were younger. Nah, Sean has had my back forever and vice versa. His shoulders roll downward, exploring the horizon. What a burden to carry? For years, he was unable to confide in anyone, not even me, his best friend.

I squeeze his shoulder. “I’m a dick.” He eyes me. “Sean, I’m… I’m not sure what to say.”

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