Page 40 of Breaking Storm

“So what?”

“Joey—”

“Tea, this isn’t my first beat down. All the other times, I’ve recuperated at home on my own.”

“According to Sean, this was the worst.” She sniffs in my direction. “And you smell. Kimberly only wanted to give you a sponge bath.”

I smirk, raise my eyebrow, and say, “I’d rather one from you.” She blushes, smiles, and avoids my eyes. “You’ve seen all I got.”

She clears her throat. “I know… I…” Her eyes meet mine. “It was different.”

Sean comes into the room and asks, “How’s the patient doing?”

Teagan folds her arms over her chest. “He needs a washing.” Turning her head to Sean she asks, “Could you—”

In unison, we both say, “No!”

Sean glances at me and puts his hands on his hips, giving me aI thought you didn’t have a problem with me being gaylook. I don’t, but it would be weird.

Her face scrunches up. “Why?”

Sean folds his arms over his chest. “It seems Joey has a problem with it.”

I cut in, “Wait. You said no, too. I’m not the only one having a problem… which I don’t, by the way.” My right foot shifts to the floor. “Let’s argue later. I need the washroom.”

After I relieve myself, I’m sitting on the side of the bed, propping myself up with one arm while the other presses against my ribs. There’s a lot of ticking going on in Teagan’s head from the way she bites her lower lip, eyes floating from Sean to me, and shifting her weight.

Finally, she asks, “What’s going on with you two? You’re friends. Why can’t Sean bathe you?”

I cock my head toward Sean with aare you going to tell her or am Ilook.

Sean sits next to me, and Teagan is standing in front of us when he blurts out, “I’m gay.”

Her eyes widen. “Oh.” Then, in a more forceful tone, she repeats, “Oh!”

A second passes and then she laughs—an entire body kind of laughter. Sean and I glance at each other until she’s able to control it.

Teagan puts weight on her left leg, holding her hand in front of her. “Sorry. I don’t mean to laugh… well, I do…” She giggles a little more. “I’m laughing at myself.” We both raise our eyebrows. “The other day, I was just thinking what a perfect guy Sean is.”

Anger ripples through me, causing me to ask, “How is that funny?”

“Because he’s gay, and I was clueless that I or any woman wouldn’t have a chance with him.”

I hold onto the bed and stand for more leverage for this argument. Teagan even thinking about Sean crushes me. He’s aperfect guy? I’m her husband. She should be saying that about me.

I step forward using my left leg, and the pain forces me to grip the bedside table. Teagan comes to help, but I bat her hands away from me.

“Leave me alone!”

Teagan scowls and asks, “What’s wrong? What did I do?”

My finger jabs in her direction. “Figure it out yourself. I’m getting in the shower.”

Sean stands in front of me. “Nope. You’ll slip. If you slip, I might accidentally grab your ass or dick, and it will only make Teagan jealous.”

It stops me for a moment until I remember saying similar words to him when he told me he was gay. I said it to make light of the subject, and he’s doing the same.

This gets me laughing, and I clutch my ribs, squeezing my eyes shut. “Asshole! Don’t make me laugh.”

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