Love's Tangled Web by Donna Taylor

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Three days later, Ellie stirred in the hospital bed, the beeping of machines and the faint smell of disinfectant telling her she was in the medical ward.

Aaron’s call came through, his voice urgent. “I got out this morning and tried to reach you. You never picked up. Everything okay?”

The tightness in her chest eased hearing Aaron was free. She shifted to sit up, but a wave of dizziness made her pause. Her gaze fell on her bandaged ankle, the scrapes on her arms a silent reminder of her recent ordeal.

Pushing through the soreness, Ellie levered herself up with one hand, her voice as casual as she could make it. “Just needed a break, you know? To clear my head. I’ll be back in a bit.”

“Good, Aaron replied, his relief palpable. “Take all the time you need. Just want you to know I’m fine now.” And with that, he hung up.

Her phone buzzed with a transfer from Aaron–a small amount but it was all he could spare. It was enough to know he was there for her.

Before she could fully register the amount, Alex’s hands were on her shoulders, gently but firmly easing her back onto the pillows. “Stay put, he said, his tone brokering no argument.

Alex dropped off some cookies on the nightstand and leaned over Ellie’s hospital bed. She was unusually quiet, and it seemed to irk him.

He playfully tweaked her cheek, his voice a mix of annoyance and concern. ‘I told you to stay put. What were you thinking, running off like that? You could’ve really messed up.”

Ellie, still smarting from being left in the rain and her mishap on the way home, shot back, “If I go down, I go down. I’m not exactly a delicate flower.

Alex stood by the bed, arms crossed, glaring at her. He was silent for a moment, realizing he’d been so focused on getting to Haley that he’d forgotten about Ellie.

But she was tough; a little rain wouldn’t have bothered her if she hadn’t gone wandering off and fallen into that manhole. He gave her a light tap on the forehead, his face stern. “That’s for the attitude.

Ellie tried to hide her hurt, touching the spot where he’d tapped but she kept quiet.

lunch? I can grab something for you, he offered, his tone softer despite his frown.

Haley, she might get sick. I brought you some cookies, thought they might help he said, trying to lighten the mood. Ellie was propped up in her hospital bed, doing her best to blink back the tears

struggle, gave her a hand to sit up, his fingers gently jeasing her closed eyelids. “If you don’t peek, I might just have to glue

1/3

Love and Don

75%

Chapter 7

her eyes to the sight of the box

maybe?—but he quickly covered it up, offering her a piece that had survived the fall relatively unscathed. “It’s not much to look at, but it’s

of how she felt–easily dismissed. To Alex,

her hesitation, brought the pastry close to her mouth, his hand brushing her hair in a comforting gesture. “Come on, just a little bite, he

didn’t understand was the power of his smiles, his gentle touches–they were the hooks that had

His e

innocent, yet it was this a bite, a tear

had her heart caught in its snare.

we’re square, right? I’ll grab us some lunch, Alex said, rising to leave without addressing the night he’d left her in the

why. Her mind had told her to three years

fantasies about him, and she’d made the hard choice to walk away

ran, the name “Alex” echoed in her heart, a

up? You didn’t dodge that manhole?” she asked, her tone sharp with worry as

cool as she pulled Haley down to sit by the bed. “I’m good, really. I’ll be out of here

her usual laid–back demeanor gone “Ellie,

a way to explain without giving too much

on me, are you?” She might

up, meeting Haley’s gaze. “Haley you know I’m tight with the Warren family. When Alex

Haley would get the hint without needing to hear the gritty details. Alex’s reasons for