Taking Shots (Assassins, #1)(162)
“I have no use for them.”
“Well you are taking them home today; Jakob already loaded them in the back of your truck.”
It took everything out of Elli to say, “That’s fine.”
“I bet it is. You listen to me, Eleanor Fisher, you are done. You have two choices, straighten up, get back to your life, or stop being friends with me. I can’t take it; I can’t take the worry, the hurt every time I see you. I want my best friend back.”
Elli looked at her like she was crazy, “You’re gonna give up our friendship because I’m trying to get over my ex?”
“Elli, if you were actually trying to get over Shea, I wouldn’t threaten you, but look, I can’t even say his name without you looking like I slapped you!”
Elli didn’t even realize she had made face, so she looked down at the ground as Harper went on, “You are not trying to get over him, you are torturing yourself, when all you have to do is call him, talk to him and I’m pretty damn sure he will want to see you. He misses you, he needs you.”
“I don’t miss him,” Elli lied, and Harper knew it. Harper shook her head, as tears came to her eyes. When they fell over her cheeks, Elli couldn’t help but start crying too.
“I’m done,” Harper cried, “You heard me, get your shit together or I can’t be your friend.”
“And how do you suggest I do that, Harper, please tell me.”
“You can’t get over him because you’re not meant to. You are meant to be with him for the rest of your life. I’ve talked to him, and I believe that he didn’t kiss Victoria, and you of all people should believe him. Victoria is vicious, you know that!”
“You didn’t see them together.”
“And yet you still won’t confront Victoria about it, why is that?”
“Because I hate her.”
“No, it’s because when you do, you’ll know she’s a f*cking liar and then you will look like an idiot for making yourself and Shea suffer. You are making him pay for Justin’s mistakes. You want to be lonely. You’re pathetic.”
Elli narrowed her eyes, not believing what was coming out of Harper’s mouth, “I mean, shit, Harp, don’t hold back!”
“Oh, I won’t, this is two months of anger that you’re getting. I’ve had it!”
“So you’ve made perfectly clear,” Elli answered.
“There is a ball tomorrow, Shea is going. I want you to go. Maybe seeing him will help because God knows when y’all are in the same room, people have to wear sunglasses the sparks are so bright.”
“I’m not going,” Elli argued.
“Okay, but you better hope the next time I see you, you better look better, or we’re done.”
“You don’t mean that.” Elli said with a shake of her head.
“Try me, Elli, just f*cking try me.” With that Harper left the room as a jagged sob left her body. Elli fell into the chair that was beside her and decided that her day wasn’t gonna get any better as the tears fell down her cheeks.
“Jesus, baby girl, every time I see you I wonder if it’s even you.” Bryan said as Elli entered his box, “You’re getting skinner by the day, I swear to it.”
“Is that complement?” Elli asked, wrapping her arms around her papa, kissing him on his cheek.
“No, baby girl, it’s not. You are scaring me.”
“I’m fine.” Elli said for the umpteenth time that day. She walked past him, going to the bar for a beer. Once she had one, she looked down at the ice, watching the guys warming up. Elli knew she could probably pick Shea out of a crowd of a million, and hated the way her eyes drifted right to him as he lined up his shot before shooting the puck in the net.
“Honey, aren’t you cold? I should go get you a new jersey.” Bryan said as he came to stand beside her, Elli shook her head. It would be a cold day in hell before she would ever wear another Assassins’ jersey with someone else’s name and number on the back.
“I don’t want another jersey.”
“I can have it say your name, darlin’.”
Elli looked up at him, “That’s not the reason I don’t want another jersey, I’m fine.”
“So you say; I know you’re not darlin’.”
“I am,” Elli emphasized. Bryan let out a frustrated breath as Elli continued to watch the guys.
“Who did you sell your seats to tonight?”
“I don’t know; someone on StubHub.”
Bryan nodded, “You know if you don’t want them anymore, I can give them to someone else.”
Elli shook her head, “I do want them, I just wanted to sit with you for a while.”
“Gracious me, you’re lyin’ your tail off,” Bryan said with a laugh, Elli looked up at him.
“I am not.”
“Well, I don’t want you to sit up here anymore, you depress me,” he gave her a cheeky grin as he grabbed a hot dog off the buffet.
“Fine, I’ll sit down in my seats next game.”
“Sure you will.”
“I will! And how am I depressing you!”
“You’re a walking zombie, darlin’, it’s sad how much your hurtin’ and won’t try to make it better or get the hell over him. Do you think he’s okay? Cause I sure don’t.”