Page 25 of Chasing Storm

“Yeah, I just saw her yesterday. We ran into her at a baby store.” I gasp. “No, she’s not pregnant. She was getting a gift for a baby shower.”

Joey kisses me and returns to his mom.

I lean on the counter and ask, “How is she doing?”

“I guess good. She asked about you, and when I told her I hadn’t heard anything, she became more worried.”

“Thanks. I’ll give her a call. Hey, how about a holiday party at our lake house? I’m not ready to step foot in Chicago.”

Leo laughs. “I’d love to, Monkey. Are you sure it’s okay with Joey?”

I swat the air, even though he can’t see, and respond, “Of course. You’re my family, which makes you his family. Plus, we stayed with you when dad died, so it’s no problem.”

“Let us know, but I gotta warn you, Izzy is due in December, so it depends on when she goes into labor.” I squeal, excited to be an aunt and spoil the baby. “I have a meeting in a half hour. Text me the details.”

“I will.”

We say our goodbyes, and I stare out the window with a grin. Sean hip-checks me, knocking me over, but he catches my arm before I fall.

“Sorry, Teagan.”

I lace my arm in his, resting my head on it. “No problem.”

“You, okay?”

The grin deepens when I look up at him. “Yes. I just talked to my brother, and he put Frankie in his place. He does want to talk to Joey, though.” I stand back to see him better. “We’re going to have a holiday get-together.”

“Don’t you think it’s too soon to be throwing a party?”

“No. I want to see my brother, Isabella, and Erin. We could all use some fun. I’m tired of being afraid. Looking over my shoulder.” My face scrunches up in a plea. “I need this, Sean.”

He hauls me in for a hug. “Then we’ll have a party.”

We scavenge through the fridge, finding nothing edible, so we order pizza. I call Erin and we’re screaming in the phone. I’m jumping up and down, skipping around the kitchen, telling her about the party.

Later, I cuddle into Joey’s side, sipping a beer, while Kara stretches out on the other side of the couch with her feet in Joey’s lap. He’s wearing a contagious smile, a reminder of how lucky we are to be alive and here together. The chatter of voices, laughter, and the numbing of alcohol lulls me to sleep.

Chapter 10

Teagan is wild at planning this holiday party. It most likely will be the last get-together here because I plan on selling the house after the new year. I haven’t mentioned it to anyone yet. For now, we’re focusing on family and friends. Because I’ve been catching up on my own financials along with Elijah’s, I’m behind on buying Christmas gifts, which is in two weeks. With all of us separated and running for our lives, it’s put things into perspective, and I appreciate everyone in my life.

I didn’t have a family growing up. James stripped me of my childhood happiness and buried me in violence. There weren’t any birthday or holiday celebrations. Even so, those days brought solace because everyone else was partying, including James in some seedy woman’s bed or his own. So, even though I won’t admit it, I’m thrilled about the party. It will be my first family and friend gathering since I was eight, when James kidnapped and hid my mother from me.

On my thirteenth birthday, my old man hired prostitutes for my sex education lesson. I had kissed a girl before, but that was it, so I was afraid, not knowing what to do. These women used me to their satisfaction. They sucked and fucked my cock raw, and then smothered me in pussy. It was one of many traumatic moments in my life. Even so, I have never been put off by a woman’s body.

As time went on, I became numb, and women became a means to an end. Until Teagan. She awakened me and my beast. I pounced on making her mine and our marriage like a leopard after its prey, seizing Teagan into submission. The journey to get where we are now took time and plenty of mistakes on my part, which I continue to make. I love her in a remarkable way, and when I say remarkable, it’s because I never expected her to have such a far reach into my soul. Teagan’s a challenging revelation, full of fight, passion, and love, and she scares the hell out of me. She doesn’t take my shit, while at the same time, I’m delirious by her desires. My feisty, passionate lover—my firefly—causes an emotional funnel to burst inside, leaving me clueless and defenseless. I hate being vulnerable, but I love orbiting Tea’s world. If there’s one thing I’m certain of, it’s the fact she’s insanely in love with me. Her words.

This party is one I’ll cherish because my mom and Teagan are with me. I want to buy each person something, even those invited. Leo and I are on friendly terms, and he did me a favor by knocking Frankie down several pegs. Since Isabella’s pregnant, I thought about getting them something for the baby. I’ll ask Teagan to help me find something for Erin. My mother could use a weekend spa treatment. She also wants a job, preferably at a florist, so when we move, I’ll buy her a shop. As for Sean, I’m giving him a month’s vacation wherever he wants to go, and afterwards, I’ll help fulfill his dream of owning a fitness studio. And Teagan, well, it will be a full-scale assault on every level of emotion. I can’t match what she did, sticking by me and risking her life. What I can do is find the perfect gift for her.

But I won’t find Teagan’s gift at the store, which is why she’s shopping with me now. We’ve been at the mall for an hour, and my arms are stuffed, carrying bags of presents. When we come up to a store she likes, which is most of them, she claps her hands, beckoning me to follow like a puppy. Just watching her full of excitement makes it worthwhile, though.

She zigzags through clothes racks, and I say, “Tea, I want to bring these bags to the car. We can come back here.”

“Uh uh. I’m on a roll.”

I’m not ready to let her out of my sight. “You’re not staying here alone.”

When Tea is set on something, she pretends not to hear me.

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