One Timer: An Nashville Assassins Novel by Toni Aleo

Author:Toni Aleo
Language: eng
Format: epub

We’re Doing This Together

Harper

“Elli?”

I yank my keys out of her door as Adler, her fat as fuck pug, comes running for me. The word running is used lightly. He thinks he’s fast, and Elli feeds into his confidence. Those two are two peas in a pod. One would think Shea would speak the truth, but I feel he’s feeding into Adler’s false sense of security too.

“Elli?” I call out once more as I set down her mail. We went out the other night, and I get it, we’re getting older. But it isn’t good when you’re still in bed three days after the drunken night. I’m worried it’s worse than Elli lets on. She told me to leave the soup and new meds at the door, not to check on her, but I could hear in her voice she wasn’t good. I head down the hall, and I hear her moaning something along the lines of “Go away,” but I don’t pay her any mind. I’ve been dealing with a wounded bear of my own. I knew I loved Jakob, but if his injury taught me anything, it was that I really love him. Like, with my whole heart.

That asshole.

Lord, he complains about everything. He is never comfortable. I’ll give it to him, it’s hard to get around on one leg looking like a damn pirate, but when he acts like a hard-ass in front of Shea or his buddies, I don’t want to hear that shit. He’s been a thorn in my side. But it’s funny… I don’t trust anyone else to care for him. It was a shock to me too; I never saw this coming. This all-consuming love. Alas, Jakob’s got me locked in.

When I round the corner into her bedroom, I find her, facedown, with her hair everywhere. I can tell by the color of her skin that she isn’t good. “Elli?”

I go to her side, but through her hair, she says, “Harper, I told you to leave everything at the front. I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine,” I point out, noticing all the Gatorade bottles and the trash can that has vomit in and around it. I tuck my phone into my back pocket before setting her soup on the nightstand along with one of her meds. The others weren’t ready. “Same as always? Everything hurts?”

“Everything,” she groans, covering her face with her blanket. “Just go.”

“Let me help you shower.”

“No, I’m fine.”

I look around at her room, the condition she’s in, and my body vibrates with anger. “Elli, how long has this been going on?”

“Just two days, I promise.”

“Where is Shea?”

Even with the blanket covering her face, I can see her brow furrow. “I don’t know. I haven’t talked with him on the phone, just texts. Why?”

“He should be here taking care of you.”

Still with a face full of confusion, she drawls out, “Why? I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine. You’re having an episode. Does he even know this is happening?”

She doesn’t answer me as I reach down to get the trash bin.

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