CHAPTER 13

Alex groaned as she worked on the paperwork in front of her, her eyes shifting between the computer and the paper.

"I'm busy," she said, feeling the presence of someone at her office door as she worked on inventory for parts and her latest order for Marissa.

"That's no way to treat an old flame, now is it?" The soft voice came out.

Alex lifted her head slowly at the distinct sound of her ex girlfriend's voice. It'd been almost two weeks since the highway incident and things seemed rather quiet, until now.

"Hello Alex," the brunette smiled.

Alex' eyes narrowed to small slits and she stood up. "What the hell are you doing here, Jodie?" She spit out.

Jodie smirked and pushed herself from the doorframe, "come on baby, don't act like that. I should be mad at you, remember?"

Alex glared as the girl sauntered up to her desk.

"You cheated on me with that toothpick. Remember? Although, I don't see why considering we both know I was amazing in bed."

Alex moved swiftly around the desk. "Get the fuck out of my office, Jodie," she whispered harshly.

Jodie smiled, "I'd watch that precious whore of yours."

Alex brought her hand back and slapped her former lover. Jodie was stunned for a moment as her head snapped back at the powerful slap, then she laughed as she held her cheek. "Get. The. Fuck. Out" Alex pointed to the door as she stared her ex down.

Jodie continued laughing as she made her way out of the office. Stopping at the door, she turned back to Alex, "I wouldn't let her go anywhere alone, you never know what could happen." With that, the Latina was gone.

Alex glared after the girl. "JJ!" She yelled. Within seconds the tall bald man was in her office, "you better be close to having them taken care of. And if you ever let Jodie back on the property again, you will be out of a job. I will kill that bitch."

"Wait, Jodie was here?"

Alex glared up at him from her chair, and she retorted, "yes, Jodie was here."

"What'd she say?"

Alex raised her eyebrows, "if you were doing your job, she wouldn't have made it in here, now would have she? She threatened Marissa's life, again!" JJ stayed silent, "if Marissa's life is threatened one more time, I will take care of whoever did it. I've done it once, and I will do it again. Now get the damn job done!"

He watched as the angered blonde pulled her bag from her bottom right desk drawer, "watch this shop and if there is any trouble I better not get a call saying you can't handle it. You're walking on the edge, JJ. I'm going to Marissa's."

JJ nodded as Alex shoved past him and out of her office.

"Fuck!" He threw his hand into the wall in frustration. He stormed from the office to the person he knew let his boss' former girlfriend into the shop.

Alex pulled open the back entrance of Marissa's store and stepped inside. She let her eyes adjust to the dim lighting of the florescent lights in the hallway before continuing to the office where she could set her things. Marissa wasn't present in the office, so she set her purse down and walked towards the main floor.

She stood quietly and watched as Marissa did inventory around the store. She couldn't help but smile as she watched her lover. No matter how many fights they had, she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed every time she looked at the younger girl.

Marissa turned as she felt eyes on her and she gave a small smile as she found Alex.

Alex returned the smile and walked to her.

"Hey," Marissa greeted softly.

"Hey baby," Alex kissed her lips softly.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were going to be at your garage all day."

Alex smiled and moved Marissa's long hair behind her shoulders then stroked her neck, "just wanted to see you. After that little fight last night…"

Marissa dropped her attention to the floor.

"You want me to leave?" Alex spoke quietly.

Marissa shook her head in denial, "no."

"Good, come on, I needa talk to you," Alex grasped her hand and led her back to the office.

"What?!" Marissa yelled.

Summer's head snapped up, and the current customers in the store all stared to where they heard the shout come from.

"Baby, keep your voice down," Alex tried to quiet the enraged blonde.

Marissa glared daggers at her girlfriend. "You want me to keep my voice down when you tell me your fucking ex girlfriend just showed up at your garage?" Marissa's arms flailed. "I knew this was going to happen."

Alex' eyebrows furrowed together in confusion. "What?"

"I heard JJ tell you Jodie was probably in all this shit lately."

Alex groaned and ran a hand through her hair.

"You didn't tell me, you didn't tell me any of what he told you, Alex."

"What all did you hear him tell me?"

"Just that Jodie is probably in on it, and well apparently she is. I know you were on the phone longer than that, Alex. What else is going on?"

Alex sighed, and sat down on the couch after shutting the door of the office.

"They want to use our relationship problems against us…well me. That's why she showed up last week," Alex confessed quietly as she stared at the ground.

"And you didn't tell me?! Why?!" Marissa shrieked, her anger starting to overwhelm her.

"Because I'm trying to protect you, Marissa," Alex answered honestly, looking up at girlfriend.

"So you don't tell me that my ex boyfriend and his brother and your ex are going to try and split us up? How the fuck is that protecting me, Alex?" Marissa shifted her weight on to her right leg and crossed her arms over her chest.

"I was going to tell you, Riss, I was."

Marissa shook her head and turned her back. With a quiet voice she spoke, "Alex, I know you want to protect me, but you have to tell me what's going on so I know."

Alex watched her actions. She stood up and slid up to her girlfriend. She wrapped her arms around her waist and buried her face into the girls' long hair, "I know, baby. I'm just so scared of something happening to you," she spoke into Marissa's hair then inhaled, "you're everything to me, Riss."

Marissa turned in her arms, her resolve completely gone as Alex nuzzled her. "What did Jodie tell you?" She rested her arms around Alex' neck as she peered into her blue eyes.

Alex dropped her vision to the floor then back up again, "she threatened you…again." Marissa nodded. "I know what she's capable of," Alex continued.

"What should I do then?"

Alex ran her hands up and down Marissa's sides, "let me do what I need to do so nothing happens to you."

Marissa nodded again, "just…tell me what's going on. Even if you think it will bother me."

Alex nodded this time, "I love you, Marissa."

Marissa smiled softly, "I love you too."

Alex pulled the girl into her and wrapped her arms tightly around her thin frame, "I know you think what I'm feeling isn't as strong as it used to be…but it is." Marissa wondered how she knew, as she had only confessed that to Summer. "I feel it," Alex felt Marissa's inner turmoil when she didn't respond.

"I just…I feel like I'm losing you, Alex," Marissa pulled back and sat down on the couch.

Alex watched her for a moment as she ran her hands through her hair, and then sat down beside her, taking Marissa's hands into hers she spoke, "I know things are tough between us right now, but I promise you aren't losing me."

Marissa felt the tears well in her eyes again.

"Hey, hey, don't cry. I promise, Marissa, we're okay, baby. We're going to be fine." Alex pulled her girlfriend into her body after wiping the tears from her cheeks.

"I'm sorry," Marissa cried as she clung to Alex.

Alex leaned back on the couch and brought Marissa with her. "Shh," she soothed Marissa as she ran her hands through her long hair and kissed the top of her head.

"Don't let them split us up. I can't live without you," more tears poured from the younger blonde's eyes and her body shook as she cried.

Alex nudged the girl back and cupped her tear stained face, "I'd kill them before I let them do that. Don't worry about having to live without me, cause I'm not going anywhere." She stroked Marissa's cheeks, "I love you."

Marissa sniffled and nodded, "I love you too."

Alex smiled gently and kissed Marissa's lips softly, "come on, I think you've had enough here today. Let's go home." Alex stood up and pulled Marissa with her.

They gathered their belongings and left the store in silence.