Ten

You don't get a say on being hurt in this world, but you get a say on who hurts you. Don't let the wrong person in...

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"What?" Ellie hated how breathless her voice sounded. She cleared her throat, then tried again. "What?"

"Its time for your meds." Parker frowned at her. "I'll be right back." He muttered, then turned towards the door.

"Why did you have to take your shirt off?" she asked as he rushed out.

Ellie stared at the door, wondering how long she could keep her emotions in check. Mrs Diego had seen the tension in the room, but unfortunately it was only one sided. She'd forever be the reliable best friend.

The doorbell rang, and she debated on whether to answer it or wait for Parker to come back down. It was in situations like this she wished she had accepted the wheelchair at the hospital.

Well, on second thoughts, having Parker's warm scent envelope her everytime he carried her wasn't exactly something she'd pass on. He had been like her personal chaffeur service, but instead of driving her around, he carried her from one part of the house to the other, helping her get in the bath tub, helping her out of the bathroom after she'd struggled to get out of the tub and into a robe. He made her feel safe and secure, and that with him, everything could be okay.

Parker hurried downstairs. "Don't try to move, I'll get the door," he yelled. He had ditched his jeans for his usual stay at home sweats and was holding a black T-shirt.

"I wasn't going to move. I'm the new queen of the château, I run this place, and that makes you my servant." Ellie laughed. "Now hurry on, Parks. I believe Queen Elizabeth is here."

Parker shook his head. "Yes mistress. Your giving me orders is hot." He winked at her.

The bird in Ellie's stomach soared at that.

"Ha! Its Prince Charles we got here, not the Queen, Ellie" Parker refused to move from the front of the door, so Ellie couldn't see who was at the door.

"Who is it?"

"Your hockey player I guess, and he's ugly," Parker replied, still at the door. His body was like a shield and she couldn't see past him.

"Thanks man," Denis replied.

At the sound of Denis' voice, Ellie froze. She couldn't get out of the room and she couldn't go out to meet him. A part of her wanted to see him, to compare him with Parker and see if she still felt something for him. The other part of her wanted to slap his cute face into the wall and feed him shit for dumping her.

"I'm not letting him in." Parker turned to look at Ellie, his considerably bigger body covered Denis.

"Come on. I'm the queen here, now move."

Parker and Ellie engaged in a stare down before he finally smirked. "Of course, Mistress."

Denis cleared his throat from behind Parker. Parker shot him a glare before moving away. One didn't need to look twice to know that Parker was definitely a better choice than Denis, not that she'd made the choice, that is. But she didn't feel as bad as she was after the breakup anymore. In just T-shirt and sweats, Parker beat Denis who was dressed in jeans, an obviously tailored shirt and a jacket.

"Eleanora." Denis nodded at her.

"Its Eleanor. What are you doing here?" Ellie's brows rose up.

Denis shrugged his denim clad shoulder. "I called your office, the lady that picked up said you had an accident, I drove to your house and you were not there. Figured this we'd be the next best place to look for you, its a good thing you are finally acting on your feelings for the dude."

Parker coughed and for the second time today, he choked on his juice. "I'll be in the kitchen."

He walked away clutching his chest.

"Watch it, Denis. I'm trying so hard to not hit you."

"Sorry about your accident, you still look beautiful as always." Denis smiled at her.

Ellie ignored his statement. "You found me, now what?"

His smile faded. "I'm sorry, really sorry. I miss you, Eleanor. Nancy isn't really worth it, turns out she wanted a celebrity boyfriend and she left immediately an actor asked her out. Then I realized how important you were to me, and how you were always there for me. I'm sorry for breaking up with you, really sorry."

Ellie smiled at his distress. "Good, you're forgiven. Now that you've made your point, you can go, Parker left the door open."

"I want you back, gimme one more chance." Denis begged. "I promise I won't mess up this time, please Eleanor."

Ellie sighed. It was against her set goals to get back together with guys she'd broken up with, but even if she was thinking of bending the rules a little, it wouldn't be for Denis. "Thanks, I'm still not interested, you can go. Both of us are done, Denis. It was fun while it lasted. And please don't call me Eleanor, you sound just like my mom."

Ellie was interrupted by applause, she turned to see a grinning Parker. She glared at him, he wasn't supposed to be eavesdropping.

"What? Its not as if you don't listen in on my phone calls." Parker shrugged.

"You talk to your girlfriends on the phone while I'm in the car with you, its not as if I can jump out of a moving car to avoid your conversation. You've obviously been standing there and listening to me, haven't you?"

Denis cleared his throat, bringing Ellie and Parker's attention back to him. "Think about it, Ellie."

"Time to go, asswipe." Parker nodded at the door.

"Parker!" Ellie scolded.

"Right I'll escort him out." Parker followed Denis towards the front door, then slammed the door in his face.

Ellie stood up, checking to see how much she could move around without Parker to lean on. It didn't take a second before she was flat on her face, her ankle throbbing in pain.

"Ellie! Oh fuck me!" Parker hurried towards her. He carried her and laid her on the couch to access the damage. "You just couldn't sit still for a few minutes, could you? You know I'm happy to carry you around. Now look what you've done."