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.

he offered, his tone softer despite his frown. “How about some salad?* Ellie’s eyelashes fluttered as she quickly closed her eyes, trying to hold back her

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 that were pooling

his fingers gently jeasing her closed eyelids. “If you don’t peek, I might just

1/3

Love and Don

75%

Chapter 7

box in Alex’s grasp, its contents now a mess of crumbs and broken

a piece that had survived the fall relatively unscathed. “It’s not much to look at, but it’s still good,” he said, his voice warm with

cookies, a symbol of how she felt–easily dismissed. To Alex, it seemed like these small offerings were all it took to make things right.

mouth, his hand brushing her hair in a comforting gesture. “Come on, just a little bite, he coaxed, his tone soft and

smiles, his gentle touches–they

His e

was this a bite,

her heart caught in its snare.

to leave without

mind had

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

in her heart, a lingering presence that she could never fully

face. “Whoa, what’s up? You didn’t dodge that manhole?” she asked, her tone sharp with worry as she moved to Ellie’s side to check her out. “If Alex hadn’t called, were your gonna keep this little mishap from

cool as she pulled Haley down to sit by the bed. “I’m good,

business, her usual laid–back demeanor gone “Ellie, why’d you hand Alex my

way to explain without giving too much

in her eyes. “Ellie, you’re not holding out on me, are you?” She

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

Alex’s reasons