Page 73 of Ellie 1

We ate at the counter since she’d skipped lunch and I was always hungry. She told me it was official and Fitz was going to Asia to work with one of the hospitals that handled most of their disaster responses. He was going to go in and train the next generation of surgeons because even with all of his flaws, he was a stellar surgeon.

No one would have put up with his bullshit for as long as they did if he wasn’t actually a rock star.

The stress was mostly the hospital not believing that Fitz wasn’t coming just to recruit after the issues between the hospitals… And apparently, that hospital had tried to steal half a million in our beds after the earthquake? She talked so fast in between eating that it was hard to keep up, but I was glad she felt comfortable enough to vent to me.

Trusted me with the information.

“I never trusted him like this,” she whispered when she was slowing down. “I cannot believe I just told you all about that. I never tell—I only tell Alan really.” She looked torn and lost when she met my gaze. “What have you done to me?”

I reached over and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’d love to think that I’m special or was able to help you open up. I don’t think it’s that and simply timing. You’re about to explode with too much, love. And I was involved with the Fitz situation. That’s all. You’re still you.”

She nodded, but I smelled the worry and sadness from her.

I brought out the brownies and cut her a small one.

She gave me a hurt glance and took only a little bite. The look she gave it was weird as she licked her lips. “What bakery did you get these from? I’m not big into brownies, but they sounded good.”

I froze, my eyes going bug wide. “They’re funny brownies, Ellie. I said that.”

She studied it before taking another bite. “They’re not decorated strangely.”

I moved my hand over hers holding the brownie. “No, funny as in pot brownies.” I nodded when she did a double take.

“You gave me edibles?” she bit out as she let go of it and moved her hand away from me. “Without telling me?”

“I did,” I stuttered. “I also told you I got the brownies Tai said you liked.”

She lost some of her anger. “Yeah, that didn’t make sense, but brownies sounded good.”

“Oh fuck.”

She snorted. “Yeah. I’ve not had pot—I think I smoked some like thirty years ago? It’s not really my scene.”

“Tai told me you—she said—I fucking asked—” My phone was out in a flash and I called Tai, putting it on speaker. She barely said hello before I was blasting her. “You told me that Ellie liked funny brownies and where to get them. What the fuck?”

“Oh shit,” Tai hissed. “Ellie, I’m so sorry. I meant to tell you what I did and to not eat them. Shit. Did she have—”

“A few bites,” I snapped. “You said she didn’t have them often, so I got the low-dose ones and cut her a sliver only.”

“Oh, I thought I got the small brownie because you were hinting I needed to lose weight,” Ellie mumbled.

“No, never,” I sighed. “I love your body and—what the fuck, Tai?”

“And how did you get the lie past the Alpha wolf?” Ellie added, sounding amused. “Cooking up something?”

I hadn’t even thought about that. I couldn’t sense all lies, but I could normally scent the guilt or whatever… And I hadn’t. “Tai?” The growl that came out of me was deep.

“Right, so I was trying something—a lotion that—a new potion. Sorry, Ellie. You could use the fun and relax. Just don’t eat a whole one.”

“You’re grounded and we’re both kicking your ass tomorrow, you shithead,” Ellie grumbled before reaching over and ending the call.

Then she took another bite of the brownie. My eyes went wide, but she just shrugged.

“She’s not wrong that I could use it. I have no idea how I’ll react so sorry in advance. I can’t even warn you. I only smoked that pot when… Insomnia.”

Yeah, clearly, she didn’t want to talk about what caused the insomnia, and I’d promised not to push her. I certainly wasn’t going to talk about old things. “I’m sorry.” I gestured to the brownies when she seemed confused. “I’m really sorry. I wouldneverdo it without permission or—I should have been clearer and—”

“It’s fine. You did say funny brownies. I was the twit,” she forgave and stretched. “I believe there was a promise of a soak and bath bombs? Are you getting something set up?” She smirked at me like she knew she was being spoiled and into it.

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