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 cthrough, 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 tyou 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 scookies 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.

Alex, still stern, looked over Ellie's injuries-scrapes and a sprained ankle. He pulled up a chair and sat down. "What do you want for lunch? I can grab something for you, he offered, his tone softer despite his frown. "How about ssalad?* Ellie's eyelashes fluttered as she quickly closed her eyes, trying to hold back her feelings. She shook her head.

Alex, watching her closely, opened the box of cookies. "Con you look all good. You're tough; a little rain won't hurt you. But Haley, she might get sick. I brought you scookies, 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 in her eyes.

Alex, noticing ler 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 these slut for you," he joked.

1/3 Love and Don 75% Chapter 7 With a heavy breath, Ellie opened her eyes to the sight of the box in Alex's grasp, its contents now a mess of crumbs and broken dreams.

Alex's face flickered with a flash of something-regret, 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 still good," he said, his voice warm with a hint of apology.

Ellie's gaze lingered on the crumbled 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.

Alex, seeing her hesitation, brought the pastry close to her mouth, his hand brushing her hair in a comforting gesture. "Con, just a little bite, he coaxed, his tone soft and encouraging.

But what Alex didn't understand was the power of his smiles, his gentle touches-they were the hooks that had reeled Ellie in, tand tagain.

His e eyes held a sweetness that was innocent, yet it was this a bite, a tear escaped, rolling down her cheek. very innocence that had her heart caught in its snare. As she took "Once you've had a taste, we're square, right? I'll grab us slunch, Alex said, rising to leave without addressing the night he'd left her in the rain or the car that never came.

Ellie didn't ask why. Her mind had told her to three years ago.

t go of her fantasies about him, and she'd made the hard choice to walk away But no matter how far she ran, the n"Alex" echoed in her heart, a lingering presence that she could never fully shake.

Haley barged in, her eyes widening at the sight of Ellie's tear-streaked 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 fromand Aaron?" Ellie sniffled, trying to play it cool as she pulled Haley down to sit by the bed. "I'm good, really. I'll be out of here tomorrow. No need to worry Aaron." Haley's face was all business, her usual laid-back demeanor 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 crossed her arms, a flicker of suspicion in her eyes. "Ellie, you're not holding out on me, are you?" She might coff as carefree, but she had a sharp eye for when something was off Tense pause, she finally looked up, meeting Haley's 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.

Ellie kept it vague, hoping Haley would get the hint without needing to hear the gritty details. Alex's reasons for wanting Haley's number were pretty obvious. And she believed Haley has got the picture.

Haley studied Ellie, her brows furrowing. "Cot it," she said, her voice heavy with realization

Haley's gaze flicked to the cookie box, its edge nicked by her mail He hpng ontoчocked by hung onto it?" she said, surprised.

Ellie gave her a puzzled look. "What's up?"

Haley shook her head. "Alex showed up with this early. I wasn't so it, and ly. I wasn't he got ticked, just chucked it, I grabbed it and left on his car 2/3 Love and Deepspace 3/3 L Chapter 7 75%

Ellie looked at the crumbled cookies, her grip on the bedsheet tightening. A deep sense of sorrow took a solid shape in her chest.

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