Page 4 of Not a Perfect Save

“Ella. Ella Marie Dixon.”

“Tell us what happened.”

She walks them through her encounter, much more alert now. Meanwhile, I’m still trying to make sense of her. Either she’s entirely daring or completely deranged. It’s too early to tell which. There’s no doubting she’s... interesting.

A couple of other cops come over to take my statement. “Sir?” one asks. “Your name?”

The other interrupts. “He’s Connor Hall. Linebacker for the New York Titans.” The air changes as everyone turns to me, but I keep my attention focused on Ella Dixon. She blinks at that pronouncement, and her eyes fix on mine. But she doesn’t say anything, just tips her head to the side, and frowns as she peers at me. None of the usual hero worship that usually accompanies my name is evident in her gaze.

I fill the police officer in on my side of the story.

“Sounds like things would have gone really badly if you hadn’t stepped in.”

Ella’s eyes go huge. “Him?”

“Actually—” My face goes red. It’s not that I’m embarrassed that she saved the day. More like I’m uncomfortable that they assume I did all the heavy lifting tonight.

“Mr. Hall, you need to come with us. We need to take a look at your foot,” a second EMT says before I set the record straight.

I’m reluctant to leave Ella. “Hey, I’ll be right back, okay?”

She nods, and I let him lead me to a nearby bench.

I continue to watch her while he tapes my ankle. Fuck. I was recovering from a sprain. Probably why I tripped while rushing the guy in the first place.

“Mr. Hall? Mr. Hall?” EMT calls for my attention. He follows my gaze to Ella. “That your girl?”

I nod. “Is there anything else?”

“We’re going to have to get you to the hospital.” He frowns. “Get your foot X-rayed.”

I know it’s not broken. I’ve had fractures before. “Existing injury. Just tweaked it. I’m fine.”

I need to get out of here before the paps find us. My name was mentioned over the police scanner and it’s only a matter of time before we’ll be swarmed, and that’s the last thing I need.

“Sir, Mr. Hall. It would be better…”

Across from me, they’ve loaded Ella onto a gurney.Shit.

“Fine. I’ll come with you, but I need to make a call first.”

I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose for a second, then rub my hand over my face when the call connects.

“Dan, there’s been an incident.”

Chapter Three

ELLA

Panicked tremors rack my body.I bite my lip and try to hold still so I don’t shatter entirely. I can’t believe everything that’s happened. All I want is to go home, lock myself in my room, and cry. Instead, I am in an ambulance zooming through Manhattan.

Breathe. In. Out. In. Out.

My hands fist at my sides, so tight that my nails dig into my palms. Hospitals freak me out—I spent too much time in them growing up. Childhood seizures, severe asthma, and a bout of pneumonia kept my parents worried and hovering for years. Not that they’ve actually stopped worrying and hovering.

I search for something to distract me before I hyperventilate and pass out, or worse, end up having a full-blown panic attack. My eyes land on the closest subject—Mr. Football Star, Connor Hall, sitting by my feet.

Even I know who he is—my dad, my sister’s fiancé, and all their cronies are big fans of the New York Titans. Though Connor doesn’t seem like a douchey professional athlete. He’s actually been really nice all this while.

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