Taking Shots (Assassins)

by Toni Aleo

  Elli went quiet; dropping what was in her hands as he kept talking. “My mom and dad came in for the game, and Grace and her husband and the kids will be there. I thought maybe you’d want to sit with them.”

  “Oh, well, I have Harper.”

  “She can sit up there, too; I think Jakob’s family is in, too.”

  “Oh, no, she would freak.” He laughed.

  “So are you telling me no?”

  “Would you be mad?”

  “No, but I’ll keep trying. I think you’ll like my parents.”

  “I probably will, but let’s give it a little longer before we go introducing each other to our families,” Elli said, “My mom leaves me a message every day saying that she wants to meet the man I was open mouth kissing in front of her grandchildren, but I just ignore her.”

  “That’s fine with me, babe. I understand.”

  “Okay, good.” Elli let out a breath; he made her so damn nervous. “Does your family know about me?”

  “Grace does, of course, but no, my parents don’t.”

  “Oh, okay, good, so they aren’t expecting me or anything.”

  “Well, I was going to tell them about you.”

  “Oh, okay….why?” He laughed and she got nervous all over again.

  “Because we’re dating.”

  “Did you tell them about the women before?”

  “No, Grace did, so no matter what, my parents will know about you.”

  Well, hells bells. Elli sat on the chair in the hall and took a deep breath. She hadn’t had to do the parent thing since Justin and that was horrific all in itself. She wasn’t ready for that, she was still scared Shea would reject her; she didn’t need the rejection of his parents.

  “Baby, why are you quiet? I told you not to worry about it, you don’t have to meet them this time around,” he said quietly.

  “Oh, thank sweet, baby Jesus,” she muttered, which made him laugh.

  “You’re silly, so do me a solid.” She laughed.

  “A solid?”

  “Yeah, a solid.”

  “Oh goodness, what?”

  “Come out into the lobby and give me a kiss for good luck tonight.” Elli grinned big as she popped up and walked quickly to the front lobby, where Shea stood, a single daisy in his hand. He was wearing a khaki suit with a blue shirt under the jacket. He looked devilishly sexy with his hair all in spikes, his sweet blue eyes not covered with his glasses. He took his phone from his ear as he grinned at her; she did the same and went to him, wrapping her arms around his neck, bringing her mouth to his. His hands came around her waist, pulling her tightly to him. When they parted he smiled down at her. “You really are Assassins’ decked-out, huh?”

  “They are my team.”

  He smiled, kissing her again. “Is there a chance I can see these undies today?” he muttered against her lips, she giggled as she shook her head pulling him down for another long passionate kiss. She could do this all day and night, his lips were that kissable.

  “I mean, Jesus! Get a damn room y’all.” Elli pulled back from Shea, looking over to give Harper the death look.

  “Did I say anything when I found you and Jakob on your desk last week?” Harper just grinned and walked right up to them.

  “No, but at least I introduced you,” she said in a matter of fact voice. “So, on with it, Ms. Fisher.” Elli rolled her eyes, parting from Shea a little.

  “Shea, this is my best friend Harper, Harper, Shea Adler.”

  “How do you do?” Harper said in an overly fake country accent, Shea smiled.

  “Good, nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  “Have you now? From who?”

  “Oh, from Elli, and Jakob, you’re quite the subject.” Harper smiled in delight and turned on her heels to walk away, with nothing but a wave. “She’s just like Jakob described.”

  “I hope he described her nicely, because she is…nice, I mean.” Shea wrapped her back up in his arms, kissing the side of her neck.

  “Elli.”

  “Shea,” she gasped as he bit softly.

  “Show me your undies.” Elli broke out in a fit of giggles as Shea smiled against her neck.

  “No way.”

  “What if I get a goal just for you, then can I see your undies?”

  “Do they have to be on me?” she asked, playing along. There was no way in hell he would see her in her undies.

  “Yes, they do.”

  “Hmm….no.”

  “Come on, two goals.”

  “No.”

  “Three.”

  “Okay, how about three, and y’all gotta win.”

  “Deal, now kiss me.”

  “That I will do,” she said with a grin as she leaned up on her tippy toes to kiss him deeply.

  It was probably the first time Eleanor Fisher hoped Shea didn’t score.

  Shea walked into his box where his family was. They always came early so they could eat and visit before Shea had to go get ready. He had left Elli and came straight there, he had hoped she would come with him, but he didn’t want to push her into anything. Shea saw his father, Mark, first, standing by the wall, overlooking the ice. His father was aging well, in his opinion, at the age of forty-nine his father didn’t look at day over thirty. His hair still black as night, he had the laugh lines and a rugged look to him, but he still looked the same as he did when Shea was nine.

  “Hey, pop,” he said as he walked in, Mark turned around with a smile on his face.

  “Hey, son, excited?”

  “Sure am, where’s mom and everybody?”

  “Pro shop. Ryan wanted a new jersey and Amelia needs a new one, too.” Shea smiled as he came over, leaning against the edge with his father.

  “You still like these seats, right, pop? I can get you another box if you don’t like these.”

  “I love these, son, let it be.” Shea nodded, looking down at the ice he would be playing on in a matter of hours. He looked over by the penalty box, where Elli would be sitting and smiled before looking over at his father who was staring at him.

  “You alright, pop?”

  “Fine, son,” he said with a nod and grin, “Your mother was wondering what girl we would be subjected to tonight.”

  “No one,” Shea said with a shake of his head as he went to the bar, getting a bottle of water.

  “Oh, really?”

  “Yeah.”

  “That’s unlike you.”

  “Pop, I haven’t been with anyone since, what was her name...Alyssa?”

  “Really? That was game four of the quarterfinals.”

  “Yeah, my priorities are changing.”

  “Good, your mother will be happy to hear that.” Mark came around the bar, grabbing himself a beer, then he smiled “Who is she?” Shea laughed, he couldn’t get one past his father if he tried.

  “Her name is Elli.”

  “Elli, short for anything?”

  “Eleanor.”

  “Nice, how long?”

  “Two weeks.”

  “Oh, I thought she came sooner.”

  “I wish she had, she’s amazing, pop. A real gem.” Mark nodded with a smile on his face. Shea knew his father wanted nothing more for Shea than to be happy outside the rink, not with a different woman every night.

  “She didn’t want to sit up here? Please don’t tell me she doesn’t like hockey!” Shea laughed, shaking his head.

  “No, pop, she had glass seat season tickets, down there by the penalty box.”

  “No shit,” Mark gasped as he looked down at the ice, not like you could see anything but empty seats, but his father still looked. “She’s rich?”

  “She owns her own business, she’s a photographer.”

  “Wow, how old is she?”

  “Twenty-seven.”

  “Good, she pretty?”

  “Gorgeous.”

  “Smart?”

  “Yeah.”

  “When do I get to meet her?”

  “I
don’t know, she’s sort of skittish. I’m trying to take it slow.”

  “Wow, this girl is nothing like what you’re used to, huh?”

  “Nope, not at all.” Shea smiled as he shook his head, “But damn she drives me nuts, with just one look, pop, one look and I’m gone.”

  “I’m impressed; I want to meet her soon.”

  “I’ll do my damndest. Like I said she’s skittish.”

  “Who’s skittish, honey?” Shea turned to see his mother, Jenna, coming in with Amelia on her hip. Grace and James with Ryan came in right behind her.

  “Hey, mom.” Shea said, kissing her cheek, he hadn’t seen his parents in a few months, but she hadn’t changed. People would say that she was Grace’s sister instead of her mom, that’s how young Jenna looked. She was only eighteen when she had them, so she was still young, or as she would say, “I’m forever young.”

  “Who’s skittish?” she asked again as Shea kissed Amelia, then Grace, before picking Ryan up over his head. Ryan’s giggles filled the box, and everyone smiled, as Shea chose to ignore her again.

  “Unky, where’s Miss Elli?”

  Well, hell.

  “Who’s Miss Elli?” Jenna asked again.

  “Ryan’s met her?” Mark asked.

  “She was the photographer for Shea’s party, pop, she also did the promo shots for the team, that’s how they met,” Grace said, taking Amelia from Jenna and giving her a juice box.

  “Met? Who? Huh? Someone tell me something before I blow up!” Jenna yelled. Everyone starting laughing, leaving Jenna to be confused. Sometimes she could be a little dramatic.

  “Mom, Elli is Shea’s new girlfriend,” Grace said with a grin for Shea, he rolled his eyes.

  “Girlfriend?” Jenna said with her hand over her heart, a dazed look on her face.

  “We’re taking it slow,” Shea said sticking his tongue out at Grace. “Don’t go planning my wedding, mom.”

  “How long have you guys been together?” Jenna asked.

  “Just a couple weeks, it’s new,” Shea insisted. “We’re just dating.”

  “She’s really nice, Jenna. I met her at the party, she loves kids,” James added. Shea cut his brother in law a look, but James just smiled.

  “She loves kids! Is she still in child bearing years?”

  “Jesus, mom!” Grace yelled, as Shea shook his head. “If you do meet her, please don’t ask her that.” Grace shook her head, making a plate for the kids as she did it.

  “What? It’s a logical question!” Jenna insisted as she turned her attention back to Shea. “How old is she?”

  “Twenty-seven,” he repeated.

  “What does she look like?”

  “Um, she’s about this tall,” he said bring his hand to the base of his throat, “Real dark curly hair, cute little nose, these lips, mom, Jesus, they have that little cupid bow look to them, and rosy cheeks, but the best part is her eyes, they are as green as moss, the kind of eyes that make you stop, look, and stare.” Shea took a deep breath, wishing Elli was there, “She’s gorgeous.”

  Jenna had a dreamy look on her face as she covered her mouth. For a minute there, Shea thought she might cry.

  “Yeah, mom, all that and get this, she isn’t a Barbie doll,” Grace added, Shea looked over at her.

  “Of course not, she isn’t blonde.”

  “No, I mean, she isn’t a size zero, she’s got meat on her, she’s kinda thick.” Shea gave Grace a dirty look, and Grace held up her hands as she laughed “Whoa there, killer, I’m not saying she’s fat, but she sure isn’t skinny.”

  “Really?” Jenna asked, as Mark gave Shea a surprised look, too. Shea knew this was news. He understood the surprise but still did he really date nothing but Barbie dolls before? No wonder Elli had a complex about this.

  “Yeah, I guess,” Shea said with a shrug, “I think she is perfect.” Jenna smiled, cupping his face.

  “Well, good, I can’t wait to meet her. Has she been married?”

  “Jesus, mom!” Grace groaned as she shook her head “Leave him alone! It’s only been two weeks.”

  “Still, he’s head over heels for her; I need to know this kind of stuff.”

  “Whoa, head over heels?” Shea asked, looking up at his mother “What the h-e-l-l does that mean?”

  “Thanks, Shea,” Grace said with a grin, as she kissed Ryan’s head. Ryan had been so bad about repeating whatever anyone said. So everyone had been doing a lot of spelling lately.

  “You know what it means, you’re in love,” Jenna said so sure of herself, that Shea kinda believed her for a split second.

  “The h-e-l-l you say!” That had everyone laughing, as Shea got madder by the second. “I care about her, but no way do I love her. I’ve never been in love. I think I would know if I was in love. I mean, it’s been two weeks,” Shea complained. Jenna just smiled as she leaned her head on Mark, looking up at him lovingly. Shea got disgusted and went to Ryan, kissing his head.

  “Unky, win for me?”

  “Of course,” Shea said kissing him again before kissing Amelia.

  “You didn’t eat, Shea,” Grace complained.

  “I’m fine,” Shea said through his teeth as he kissed her then went towards the door. Just as he was about to go through, his mother decided that was the time to say, “There will be a wedding this time next year, I feel it. You guys be ready-”

  Shea walked out before he heard anything else. There was no way he was in love. Elli was amazing, perfect even, but he didn’t love her. Not saying he would never love her, but right now, no…there was no way…right?

  Elli was beyond excited; she had her number six jersey on while Harper was decked out in number two gear. They both had their faces painted with their favorite guy’s numbers and Elli had to admit, they were too damn cute for words. Harper was leaning back, drinking a beer as she looked around the filling arena. Elli was basically bouncing in her seat; she was so excited about the game, about seeing the guys on the ice for the first time since last season, about seeing Shea.

  “This is cool, I guess,” Harper said. Elli looked over at her, a big grin on her face.

  “It's amazing!” She gushed, causing Harper to shake her head.

  “Apparently, Jakob’s family is here from Russia or wherever the hell he’s from.” She was looking around at the boxes. Elli looked up at what she knew what Shea’s family’s box.

  “Did you meet em?”

  “Hell no, we aren’t together like that. He asked, and I, of course, said fuck no,” she said nonchalantly.

  “Harp, come on now, y’all are together.”

  “No, we ain’t, we’re just screwing around, and he’s the one trying to take this to a level it ain’t,” she said with a shrug.

  “I’m gonna point this out because of how you ousted me to our friends, but aren’t you wearing a number two on your face along with the jersey?” Harper looked down at her jersey, then back at Elli.

  “It means I’m proud of who I’m screwing, plus he said if I wear his number he’ll make it worth my while and, of course, I want that.”

  “Oh, of course,” Elli said with a shake of her head. Harper was impossible. This was the first guy that had lasted more than a week with Harper. They had been going strong for almost a month, even though Harper wouldn’t talk to him for days at a time, Elli knew there was something there. She also knew that Harper was scoping the place out; she was looking for any sign of Jakob, probably seeing if she could find his family’s box, which Elli knew was the one by Shea’s.

  Screaming irrupted, causing Harper to jump as Elli popped up screaming along with the fans because the guys were coming out to warm up. Shea was the last one out and when Elli saw him, she grinned. He looked amazing all suited up with no glasses covering his blue eyes and in a way she missed them. His helmet sat on his head, but it wasn’t buckled underneath, something she knew he wouldn’t do until the game started. He skated around twice before he saw her, and the grin that came over his face was
so bright, it could have blinded someone. He skated over to where she sat, and just smiled, then pointed to his face.

  Elli shrugged, saying “So, I’m a fan.”

  “Turn around.” It was hard to hear him, but she heard him and did as he asked, when she faced him again he was smiling extra hard. He pulled his glove off and held up three fingers, then kissed his palm pressing it to the glass; she pressed her hand against his, and then said, “Good luck,” before he skated off with a nod.

  “Oh. My. God. Y’all disgust me that was straight out of some sappy love story, blah.”

  “Oh, shut up,” Elli said with a huge grin. She loved it.

  “What the hell did that mean, anyway?”

  “He’s gonna score me three goals.”

  “Okay, that’s pretty hot, not as hot as Jakob is right now, but hot.” Elli shook her head, falling into her seat.

  That man was gonna drive her bat shit crazy. She held up her hand ordering another beer, as she watched the show of the guys warming up. They were playing the Sharks tonight, a cut throat kind of team and it was gonna be a good game. People were filing in, getting to their seats as they cheered for the guys. Elli laughed as she saw the females pressing their breast against the glass with Adler written across their chests. She also saw the kids with their signs for Shea. He always made it a point to go give them his stick or a puck, and it was so cute when they would run off to their parents jumping up and down.

  “He hasn’t even knowledge me yet!” Harper complained. Elli looked up at her, then back at the ice where Jakob and Shea were shooting back and forth to each other.

  “Harp, he’s warming up,” Elli insisted.

  “Shea came over, did his little thing, where’s my little thing!?” Harper whined, Elli shook her head, aren’t together her ass. Harper might have found her match. Jakob was hot as hell and from what Shea said, a really great guy too. Just then, Jakob looked up, seeing Harper. He smiled, nodding his chin at her, Harper smiled back, turning around to show his number to him. Jakob just grinned, watching as she twirled around for him, doing a little dance. She pointed to her face, before blowing him a kiss which he in returned by making a kissy face back at her.

  It was downright disgusting and Elli couldn’t wait to tell everyone.