Taking Shots (Assassins) (9 page)

Elli parked her truck in a spot and then proceeded to go in. She loved the feel of Melanie Renee’s store; it was so inviting, so classic. Totally white, with the only color being the clothes and accessories, big white lamps hung from the ceilings and the glass windows were from floor to ceiling, lining the front of the store. Elli went to the first rack, looking through it, when her phone singled a text message. It was Shea.

I miss your small hand.

She grinned so big that she thought her face was gonna break.

“
Do we even carry your size here?” Elli looked up from her phone, her smile falling. Her sister, Victoria, stood before her in what she knew was a size extra small of the exact same dress Elli was wearing. Her sister was extremely beautiful. Long light brown hair that came to the middle of her back, straight as a board, big green eyes, with high cheek bones, and a cupid bow mouth. But even though Victoria Fisher was gorgeous, she was evil, had been making Elli’s life a living hell since the day she had been born.

“
Obviously, y’all do since I am wearing the same dress you are, Vicky.” Elli knew Victoria hated being called Vicky, but she did it anyways.

“
I didn’t know we carried cow here?”

“
Wow, thanks, my dear sister,” Elli said as she moved through the racks. “Why are you here?”

“
I work here.”

“
Lord help us all! What happened to the big modeling gig?”

“
It happened, now I’m down on money.”

“
And you’re not living off momma and daddy?”

“
No, I can stand on my own feet, thank you.”

“
Sure,” Elli said with a dazed look. “Well, it’s been great talking to you, Vicky, but I’m busy and I know you wouldn’t want me to report to management that you’re harassing me, right?”

Victoria glared as she walked away towards the counter. Elli tried to ignore the stares of her evil sister as she shopped, but it was hard, especially with her words going through Elli’s head.

I didn’t know we carried cow?

She kept looking through the racks because she’d be damned if she let her sister see that she had gotten to her. She was flipping through one of the last racks when she saw a champagne colored
apron dress from the 1930s. It had a cute little bow tie in the back and it was just so cute! She found her size and carried it to the counter where her sister stood, glaring, of course.

“
Can’t I refuse service?”

“
You can, but I can have Amy on the phone in a matter of seconds.” Amy was the manager of the store and, luckily for Elli, she had taken pictures of Amy’s daughter last week, so Elli would be fresh on Amy’s mind.

“
Whatever.”

As Victoria took care to take the tags and security tag off Elli’s dress, she looked at the counter where there were cute head bows and flowers to go with the dresses in the store.

“
I’ll take that champagne colored feathery bow too, please,” Elli said, Victoria grumbled something, and then rang it up. After giving her the total, Elli handed her back her bank card.

“
Must be nice to drop this kind of money on a dress and a hair bow.”

“
Well, when you work for it, it does feel nice. Have a nice day, sister dear.” Elli grabbed her bags and card and walked out feeling a lot better since she knew her sister was jealous to the core. When she got into the truck, she started it before she pulled her phone back out, reading Shea’s message again. Katy Perry’s “Not like the Movies”, started playing and Elli smiled.

What was happening with Shea was kinda like the movies. It was like a dream.

And I miss your big hands swallowing mine.
She typed back before putting her phone on her thigh and driving off.

The wedding went great that night. Harper didn’t talk to Elli, but Elli knew she would get over their little fight from earlier that day. Shea had texted her all night and she enjoyed their little conversation between her working. After the wedding, Elli was walking towards her truck when Harper fell in step with her.

“
I’m not dating him,” she muttered.

“
Okay, it’s none of my business.”

“
Yes it is. You’re my best friend.”

“
You’re right, so be honest with me, you like him?” Harper looked everywhere but Elli’s eyes. She had this nervous look to her, which confirmed what Elli thought. Harper really liked Jakob.

“
I like having sex with him.”

“
Well, there’s a start to admitting your feelings.”

“
You like Shea?”

“
I do.” Harper seemed to think it over, and then she looked Elli right in the eyes.

“
Then you better not let your insecurities get in the damn way. You're amazing El, amazing. Any man, even dudes at Shea Adler’s caliber, would be lucky to be with you. Don’t forget that and don’t let your family fuck it up.” She turned to walk away, and then stopped to look over her shoulder at Elli. “And don’t let past shit with Justin fuck it up, either.” Harper was gone after that, leaving Elli alone to lean against her truck.

How the hell did she do that? Totally call her on everything that Elli was feeling scared of and then walk away like it was nothing. She smiled as she got into her truck; she guessed that’s why she loved Harper so much. Harper knew her inside and out.

Once she got on near the interstate, she was stopped at a red light, when she looked at the clock, it was well past midnight, so she texted Shea to see if he was awake. She pulled onto the interstate just as her phone rang. It was Shea.

“
Hey, did I wake you?”

“
No,” his voice was all groggy.

“
Liar. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“
No, I want to talk to you, make sure you get home okay.” She smiled. “How was the wedding?”

“
Beautiful, tiring. I’m ready to go to bed.”

“
Are you on the interstate?”

“
I am, I have about thirty minutes until I get there.”

“
Okay, so did you hear about the Potter trade?” he asked, and that threw them into an awesome conversation of hockey. She loved talking hockey with Shea. He actually knew what he was talking about, unlike her brothers. They were idiots and they only liked the fights. Elli was home before she knew it; she pulled into her drive and smiled at Adler, who was in the window, wagging his little pug tail.

“
I’m home,” she said after a moment of silence.

“
Okay, so I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“
Yup, seven right?”

“
Right.”

“
Do you still want to pick me up? I’m cool with driving in town.”

“
I’ll be there at seven. I want to see your house.”

“
Okay, well, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“
Alright, babe, bye, sweet dreams.”

“
You, too, bye.”

Elli hung up the phone with a grin on her face as she walked up the sidewalk to her house. She loved on Adler as she came in and then let him out as she moved through the house. After hanging her dress up and taking her shoes off, she went to let Adler back in. She stood in the doorway, waiting, and looked behind her to her Assassins wall. There was a fathead of the team’s emblem and then pictures from the game, mostly of Shea, since he was her favorite player. There was also a signed jersey that her uncle had gotten her that year to go with her season tickets. Shea’s signature was in the middle, right beside his number. She loved her little entry way, it was totally Assassins’ decked out.

“
Oh, shit!”

She looked around in horror. She was dating an Assassin and when Shea saw this he would think she was a freak!

“
Oh my God, and he’s coming here tomorrow!”

Shea was looking really good, in his opinion, as he drove to Elli’s house. The suit he had picked out fit him perfectly and he was having a great hair day. He was going to put his contacts in, but he couldn’t find them. He was extremely excited about seeing Elli, even after the conversation him and Jakob had had that day.

“
Dude, you’re making yourself too available!” Jakob bitched as Shea texted Elli, “You’re always talking to her and she’s going to think you’re desperate.”

“
No, she won’t. I just like talking to her,” Shea said defensively, “So shut up.”

“
You’ve seen her every day since Sunday. You are smothering her!”

“
I am not! I just want to get to know her,” Shea looked back up at him, glaring, “and this coming from the guy that stalking what’s her name.”

“
Harper, but I love her.”

“
Oh, my God, really dude? It’s been a week!”

“
I know
the one
when I see her.” Shea stood up, wrapping a towel around his waist.

“
You know what, before you try giving me advice on how to date girls, get your love life square.”

Shea shook his head just thinking about Jakob declaring love for Elli’s friend. It made no damn sense, but it really didn’t matter. He was going out with Elli in a matter of minutes.

Her house wasn’t hard to find. It was one of six on the road she had given him. He saw her truck before he saw the house. That damn truck, a girl shouldn’t be driving it, a man should. He shook his head as he pulled up behind it and got out. He was so mesmerized by her truck that he didn’t notice her sitting on the porch in a rocking chair. She stood up, looking as beautiful as ever in a light colored dress.

“
Hey,” she said with a wave, crossing her legs. She was wearing some naughty looking boots that had chains on them.

“
Hey, I was going to come to the door,” he said as he walked towards her. She looked nervous as she came down the stairs.

“
Yeah, my dog jumps on people.”

“
How high can a forty pound pug jump?” he asked with a laugh.

“
Hey, shut up. Let’s go,” she said pulling him towards the car.

“
You don’t want to show me the house?”

“
No, I’m ready to go. Plus, I don’t want my dog to mess up your suit.” She took his hand in hers and started for the truck. He went along with it. If she didn’t want him in her house, fine.

For now.

He opened the door for her and she climbed in, grinning back at him. He returned the smile, and then went around, getting in himself. He pulled out of her driveway and they were off.

“
I told you I should have just drove,” she said from beside him. He looked over at her.

“
What?”

“
You’re mad.”

“
I am not.”

“
Yes, you are. You get that tick in the side of your jaw when people irritate you.” He had to smile at that. That’s how he knew for sure she was a hockey fan. His tick was documented as a way for is opponents to watch the hell out.

“
That doesn’t mean I’m mad.”

“
True, but you are irritated. I’m sorry Shea. I’m just not ready to show you my house.”

“
Can I ask why?”

“
I’d prefer ya didn’t.”

“
Okay,” he took a deep breath, trying to calm his irritation, “but I still want to pick you up and walk you to the door at the end of the night.” He looked over at her and she was biting her lip. He reached over, taking her hand in his. “You look beautiful tonight, Elli. Gorgeous.” She blushed and looked out the window.

“
Thank you. I like your tie.” He smiled as he looked down at his pink tie.

“
I thought you might.”

Nothing else was said as they drove; it was a nice, comfortable silence. With other women, he always felt like he had to keep talking, but with Elli, all he needed was her small soft hand in his and he was golden. Nothing in the world could bother him, except for the fact she wouldn’t let him in her house.

They arrived at PF Changs right before their reservations. After helping Elli out of the truck, Shea gave the keys to the valet and took her hand before leading her in. The hostess already had their table and they followed her to the back. Since he couldn’t wear a hat tonight, he asked to be in the back somewhere and the restaurant obliged. They were seated at a corner table where they scooted into the booth, next to each other.

“
What’s good to drink here?” Elli asked as she looked over the menu. He looked over at her from his menu.

“
I was going to get us a bottle of plum wine, it’s really good here.”

“
Sounds good,” she said with a nod, and a smile. “Your hair looks extra spiky today.” She reached up and tapped his head with her palm, making him laugh.

“
Yeah, when I don’t wear my hat, I make sure my hair looks good.”

“
It does,” she said with a grin as the waiter came over to take their orders. Elli knew what she wanted and so did he, so they ordered their food, too. The waiter smiled thanks before leaving to put in the order.

“
So how was your day?” he asked her as he took a drink of the wine another waiter had brought over.