Page 38 of Breaking Storm

Joey’s hand squeezes mine. “I’m asking the doctor. You don’t have to do anything, Tea.”

On cue, Dr. Rossman comes in, browses the chart, as Joey says, “I want to be discharged.” The doctor’s head shoots up. “Send me home with meds. I’ll be fine.”

Rossman clips the chart back onto the bed. “Joey, everything you need—”

“I know.” His tone softens. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, Doc, but I want my bed. To heal at home. I’ll hire a homecare nurse or whatever they’re called.”

The doctor turns to me. “Are you okay with this, Teagan?”

My eyes dart from him to Joey to him again. “Well, um…”

Joey cuts me off. “I’m the patient, and this is what I want. You don’t need Teagan’s consent.”

Rossman says, “She’ll have to—”

“No, she won’t. I’ve had my ass beaten before and healed at home.”

Dr. Rossman and I exchange a look. Joey’s adamant about going home. The only thing I can hope for is Sean talking him out of it. The doctor releases a sigh and leaves me to deal with him.

Standing at the end of the bed, I ask, “Why can’t you wait another week?”

Joey raises his voice. “Because I want to be home. I shouldn’t have to explain it.” He coughs and I offer him water, but he turns his head.

His eyes grow tired, yet he fights sleep. I sit in the chair, and neither of us says anything. Joey’s lashing out because he’s exhausted and in pain. Bringing him home might delay his healing. Sean walks into a quiet room. He takes tentative steps toward the bed, glancing back and forth at me and Joey.

Joey blurts out, “I’m going home.”

My eyes plead with Sean as I mouth,please talk him out of it.

Joey sees me doing that and shouts, “It’s not your decision, Tea!”

Sean holds his hands up and says, “Joe. There’s no reason to shout.”

“Yes, there is. They’re trying to keep me here.”

Sean looks at me, shrugs, and says to Joey, “If you feel home is best for you, then that’s where you’ll go. We’ll get a nurse to come out and help.”

Joey glances my way, wearing a smug expression. It makes me laugh because it’s a sign he’s getting better. An argument is futile. Joey refuses to listen to reason, and Sean supports him. I’m only worried it might set him back. He can rest here with no distractions. At home, there’s no telling who will stop over.

After the catheter is removed, a home healthcare nurse is setup, we load the SUV with the items accumulated during his stay, and settle Joey in the backseat. This activity alone is enough to knock him out and allows me to think about how to get him situated.

Instead of allowing us to put him in a room on the main floor, Joey objects, wanting to sleep in his own bed. Sean carries him upstairs. I plump pillows behind his back, elevate his leg, and make sure he’s covered. He’s already sleeping again. Sean and I head downstairs where I finally get the chance to lay into him.

“Why did you agree to Joey coming home?” The volume of my words increases. “He has bandages that need changing, his leg is in a splint, and he has only peed once without a catheter.” Sean’s about to speak, but I continue, “Even though a nurse is coming, she won’t be here all day and night.”

I slide my fingers through my hair and let my head fall back. Since finding Joey on the front porch, I haven’t slept well. The chairs and cots in his hospital room were uncomfortable, and it didn’t help that the nurses came in to check on him every couple of hours, waking all of us.

Sean’s hands slide over my shoulders, massaging them, and I let him. His fingers dig into my muscles, loosening the knots.

While working the kinks out, Sean lets out a heavy sigh and says, “Joey will be fine. I’m here to help. I’ve brought a duffel bag, so I’ll be sleeping over until he’s able to do things on his own.”

My hands cover his, and I lean back into his chest. “I’m sorry. I didn’t—”

He hugs me from behind. “It’s okay. We’re all tired, and if you haven’t noticed, Joey’s been a dick.”

I laugh, gripping his forearms, and rock back and forth. Sean is the perfect guy. It’s too bad I’m not attracted to perfect. Instead, I want to get to know Joey, but not Graffiti, who I’ve judged from the world he lives in.

Chapter 16

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