Chapter 7
Three days later, Ellie stirred in the hospital bed, the soft beeping of machines and the faint scent of disinfectant filling the sterile room. She blinked, her body feeling heavy as she tried to piece together the events leading up to this moment.
Aaron’s call broke the silence, 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 dizziness swept over her, making her pause. Her gaze landed on her bandaged ankle, the scrapes on her arms a reminder of the night’s chaos.
Pushing through the soreness, Ellie propped herself up with one hand, her voice light. “Just needed a break, you know? Clear my head. I’ll be back in a bit.”
“Good,” Aaron replied, his relief evident. “Take all the time you need. Just want you to know I’m fine now.” Then, the call ended.
Her phone buzzed a moment later—a small transfer from Aaron. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to remind her he was there for her.
Before she could fully absorb the amount, Alex’s hands gently pressed onto her shoulders, easing her back onto the pillows. “Stay put,” he said firmly, his tone making it clear there would be no argument.
Alex placed a box of cookies on the nightstand and leaned over Ellie’s bed. She remained unusually quiet, and he noticed the change, his concern mixing with annoyance.
He pinched her cheek lightly, trying to lighten the mood. “I told you to stay put. What were you thinking, running off like that? You could’ve really hurt yourself.”
Ellie shot him a look. “If I go down, I go down. I’m not exactly a delicate flower.”
Alex stood by the bed, arms crossed, his gaze steady. He’d been so focused on getting to Haley that he’d forgotten about Ellie and what she needed. But she was tough; a little rain wouldn’t bother her if she hadn’t gone wandering off and fallen into that manhole.
He gave her a light tap on the forehead. “That’s for the attitude.”
Ellie flinched slightly but didn’t respond. The sting of his gesture mixed with the pain from her fall, leaving her in silence.
Alex studied her injuries—a sprained ankle, a few scrapes—and pulled up a chair. “What do you want for lunch? I’ll grab something for you,” he offered, his tone softer now. “How about a salad?”
Ellie closed her eyes for a moment, trying to gather herself. When she opened them again, she shook her head, refusing.
Alex noticed, his eyes softening as he reached for the cookie box. “Come on, you look like you could use something. A little rain won’t hurt you. But Haley, she might get sick. I brought you cookies. Thought they might help,” he said, trying to lighten the mood.
Ellie blinked back the tears threatening to fall as she stared at the crumbled cookies, their broken pieces a perfect metaphor for how she felt—easily dismissed. To Alex, these small gestures were enough to make things right.
He noticed her hesitation and, without missing a beat, brought the cookie close to her lips, his hand brushing through her hair in a comforting gesture. “Come on, just a little bite,” he coaxed.
But what Alex didn’t understand was that his smiles, his small touches, were the hooks that had reeled her in. Time and again, Ellie had tried to fight it, but his innocence held her heart in a way she couldn’t explain.
As she took the cookie, a tear slipped down her cheek. His warmth, his care—it was all so much for her to handle.
“Once you’ve had a taste, we’re square, right? I’ll grab us some lunch,” Alex said as he stood to leave, not addressing the night he’d left her out in the rain or the car that never came.
Ellie didn’t ask why. She’d told herself three years ago to stop fantasizing about him, to walk away from those feelings. But no matter how far she ran, Alex’s name echoed in her heart, a lingering presence she could never shake.
Haley barged in a moment later, her eyes widening when she saw Ellie’s tear-streaked face. “Whoa, what’s up? You didn’t dodge that manhole?” she asked, moving quickly to Ellie’s side. “If Alex hadn’t called, were you gonna keep this little mishap from me and Aaron?”
Ellie sniffled, trying to act tough, but it didn’t work. “I’m good, really. I’ll be out of here tomorrow. No need to worry Aaron.”
Haley’s face shifted into business mode, her usual carefree attitude gone. “Ellie, why’d you hand Alex my number?”
Ellie hesitated, her mind racing for a way to explain without giving too much away.
Haley’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of suspicion crossing her features. “Ellie, you’re not holding out on me, are you?”
Ellie sighed and met her gaze. “Haley, you know I’m tight with the Warren family. When Alex asked for your digits, I was kinda stuck. If he’s bugging you, just don’t pick up.”
She kept it vague, hoping Haley would get the message without needing to hear all the details. Alex’s reasons for wanting Haley’s number were obvious, and Ellie believed Haley had caught on.
Haley studied her carefully, her brows furrowed. “Got it,” she said, her voice heavy with realization.
Her gaze flicked to the cookie box, its edge nicked where Haley’s nail had grazed it. “You hung onto it?” she asked, surprised.
Ellie glanced at the crumbled cookies, the remnants of Alex’s attempt to lighten the mood. Her grip on the bedsheet tightened. A deep sense of sorrow settled inside her.
“Yeah,” Ellie muttered, staring at the broken pieces. “Seems like that’s all I’m left with.”
