Taking Shots (Assassins) Read online

  The guys began skating off, but Shea did give Elli one last look before skating off leaving her breathless. Harper dropped into the seat beside her, grinning her ass off.

  “Aren’t together, huh?” Elli asked. Harper shot her a look before downing her whole beer and muttering, “Shut up.”

  “Shit,” Elli complained as she walked back to Harper’s car, “Shit, Shit, Shit.”

  “I’m pretty sure you’re supposed to be happy when they win, Elli. I mean I know this was my first game, but still I think that’s the way it supposed to go.” Elli cut her a glance as she climbed into the car. Yup, they had won. Five to two, Shea had scored four goals and after each one he threw Elli a grin.

  “Damn it.”

  “What’s wrong!?” Harper finally yelled.

  “If Shea scored three goals and they won, I am supposed to show him my underwear.” Harper giggled as she started the car.

  “Now that is definitely hot, you have pretty undies on right?”

  “They are my Shea Adler underwear!”

  “Awesome,” Harper said with a laugh, as she turned onto West End, heading towards the restaurant where they were meeting the guys for drinks.

  “He’ll see my tummy, Harp.”

  “No, he won’t, just leave your jersey on, lower your jeans just a little, no big deal.”

  Elli let out a little scream of frustration and smacked her thighs, “Why did I make that bet!”

  “Cause you like him,” Harper said with a grin as she pulled into PF Chang’s. They got out of the car and headed inside; giving the name that Jakob had told Harper to give the hostess. The hostess smiled and asked them to follow her, which they did. They passed some curtains to a booth set for four.

  “Can I get y’all something to drink?” the waitress asked.

  “A beer, please,” Elli said.

  “Me, too,” Harper added as she placed her purse beside Elli’s on the booth. Harper pulled her phone out and smiled. “They’ll be here in a few.”

  Elli nodded as the waitress came back with their drinks and asked if they wanted an appetizer. They declined, saying they were waiting for their dates and the waitress left with a smile. Elli took a long pull of her beer, completely nervous to see Shea. She knew he was expecting her to own up to their bet, and she would, but it didn’t mean she would like it.

  “Hey, are you going to that party tomorrow?” Elli looked up at Harper; she was picking the paper off her beer.

  Aw, she was nervous.

  “Yeah, are you?”

  “I was thinking about it, Jakob ask me a while back, but I told him no, and of course, he won’t accept no and won’t quit harassing me about it. I really don’t have anything to wear, though.”

  “We can go shopping tomorrow.”

  “Yeah, maybe.” The curtain pulled back and Jakob came through, a big smile on his face. Shea came in behind him, looking extremely tired, but when his eyes met Elli’s, he smiled and came towards her, kissing her lips softly. After parting, Elli scooted into the booth beside Harper, who was, making eyes at Jakob.

  “Hey, Jakob,” Elli said. Jakob looked over at her, red dusting his cheek.

  “Hey, Elli, how are you?”

  “Good thanks and you?”

  “Great now,” he said before kissing Harper’s cheek, which caused her to giggle.

  Elli rolled her eyes, before looking over at Shea. He was smiling at her. He leaned towards her, moving her hair behind her ear before whispering, “You know you owe me, right?”

  “I know,” she mumbled, causing him to smile before nibbling on her neck.

  The waitress came back and the guys ordered some beer and then everyone ordered their food. The dinner was nice; it was fun hanging out with Harper and Jakob. They were too stinking cute together and no matter what Harper said, they were a couple. Shea held Elli’s hand through the whole dinner, rubbing his thumb along the back of her hand, or he would move hair off her shoulder just to place a kiss on her neck. It was intoxicating.

  “Are y’all ready for dessert?” The waitress asked as she picked up plates.

  “No, can we get the check?” Elli asked. Everyone looked over at her. “What, y’all are tired, you need to get home and rest, not stay out with us all night.”

  “Elli,” Harper sneered.

  “What?” she asked innocently.

  “Elli’s right. I’m tired as hell. I’m gonna head out.” Shea handed his card to the waitress “The whole bill is on that, please.” The waitress nodded just as Jakob started to complain about paying. “You paid last time.”

  “Yeah, for you, this is all of us,” Jakob complained.

  “Doesn’t matter.”

  “I got the next dinner.”

  “Fine,” Shea agreed. “Can you give Jakob a ride home, Harper?”

  “Of course, straight to my house,” she cooed to Jakob, which had him grinning. Shit, there was no way Elli was staying at Harper’s house now. Not with Jakob coming over for sexcapades.

  “Can you still take me to my car?” Elli asked. Harper nodded as she kissed Jakob’s neck.

  “I’ll take you, babe,” Shea said, Elli smiled.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Of course,” he said as the waitress brought back his bill and card. They all thanked the waitress and headed out to the parking lot. After saying bye to Harper and Jakob, Elli jumped into Shea’s truck and as she leaned back in the seat, she yawned loudly.

  “Tired?” Shea asked as he started to truck.

  “Yeah, if I knew that Jakob was going over to Harper’s, I would have just skipped dinner and gone home.”

  “Huh?” Shea asked. She looked over at him. He looked confused.

  “I was supposed to stay the night with Harper, but since she has a studio condo, there is no way I’m gonna stay there with sexcapades going on,” she said with a laugh, “but it sucks cause I’m so tired.”

  “So stay with me.” Elli’s head whipped around.

  “Say what?”

  “Come stay at my house. I’m right down the road, we can be asleep in thirty minutes tops.”

  “Huh?” Elli was confused, did he really think she was gonna sleep with him? Didn’t they just have this discussion two days ago?

  “Come stay at my house, sleep in my bed. Nothing’s going to happen, one, you aren’t ready; two, I’m tired, so it’s cool. If you don’t want me to sleep in the bed with you, I’ll endure the couch. But when I lose the game on Friday, its because you made me sleep on the couch. Anyone who has ever slept on it can tell you that thing is hell on your back.”

  He was rambling, probably because she was looking at him like he was an alien.

  “You want me to sleep in bed with you?”

  “Yeah, I don’t want you driving home this late, babe.”

  “Oh, okay,” she said looking down at her hands. It was just to sleep, no big deal. “Can we drive by my studio so I can get my bag?”

  “Sure, babe.” He looked so tired as he turned down 23 to get to her studio. When they pulled up, Elli jumped out and ran to her truck, opening the back to get her bag and dress bag. Hopefully, he wouldn’t mind letting her hang up her dress in a closet. He had to have a closet she could use. He popped the trunk and got out, helping her put her stuff in. After that, they got back in the truck and headed over to his condo. Shea insisted on carrying her bags as they walked up the stairs and into the condo.

  “Do you have somewhere I can hang up my dress?” she asked as he laid his keys in the basket by the door.

  “Sure, come on.” She followed him through the house. It was messier than it was last time and it made her smile to think that he had cleaned up just for her. They came to the same bedroom that she had high tailed it out of not even four days ago; it seemed bigger now that she stood in it. The windows that lined the western wall were so clear; it looked like nothing was there. Just the night sky with the batman building’s silhouette. His bed was huge, the biggest bed she had ever seen. The color sc