Chapter 3

Will they come for me again? For Alex this time? Or maybe us both? I have no idea how much time has passed but before I know it the officers are gone and I'm locking the store for the night before heading home. Alex walks with me home so I'm not alone and before I know it we're outside our front door. "Geez, he wasn't kidding about the officers." I say nodding to the police car that's parked a little ways down the road. "It's just for a couple of days." He says while unlocking the door.

I instantly head to the kitchen to fix myself a night snack before bed. "Are you okay, Shorty." I hear Alex behind me. I stop what I'm doing for a brief moment as I fell tears start to break their way out and fall. "What's wrong?" He asks seeing the tears. Shaking my head, I start wiping at the tears before fully facing him. "Why? Why does this have to happen all over again?" I ask quietly. There is a long silent pause between the two of us before Alex leads me back tot he living room before sitting o the couch pulling me on top of him. "Everything will be okay. They will find them and arrest them. You don't need to worry." He whispers to me while holding me close to him as I bury my face into his shirt.

"I'm sorry I didn't believe you." Feeling stunned I pull back a little and look at Alex for a bit. "It's okay, but next time if I say something and tell you it's true, believe me." I say to him seeing him offer a faint smile before I lay back down on top of him. " You would think by now I would learn to listen to what you say and believe your words. I'm still learning I guess." Alex says quietly before laughing softly.

Some time after I go back to the kitchen to eat my snack before heading to bed. I start to lay down but look at Alex curiously as he joins me. "What are you doing? You usually stay up later than me." I say as he turns in my direction before wrapping his arms around me. "I want to be near you as much as I can right now, who knows when they'll find them and right now they could easily sneak past the officers and make their way here without anyone knowing. I'm not going through that again, I almost lost you once and that was once too many." At his declaration, I snuggle closer to him with a smile on my face. "I know you wouldn't. I just don't want anything to happen to you either. What if this time they come after you?" I question as I feel him breathing above me before answering. "I'll be fine, they won't come near either of us okay? I won't let them."

"I love you Alex." I say quietly and as I start to drift off I feel him place a kiss on the top of my head before saying, "I love you too Shorty."

The next morning, I wake up realizing the time and that Alex had let me sleep in thinking I needed it. It's not like I had to be at work, it is my off day, but what if I had plans that I didn't miss? Shortly after I start to shake my head, I shouldn't be picking at anything he does for a reason to take it out on him. I shouldn't even want todo that but I do. I can't help but think that what if I never met Alex that day? Would the same thing that happened with Dayton, happen again? Would I have even been saved if I hadn't met Alex?

I tell myself to stop thinking these thoughts soon after having them. I can't do this to myself and worse of all I can't do this to Alex either, I love him and I wouldn't wish it any other way. I hear my phone beep next to me and look over to see it's from Alex.

Hey Shorty, wanna meet for lunch?

I smile reading his message before replying a quick 'sure'. I never know what to do with my days off as it never seems to lineup with his but the rare days I get to spend his lunch with him are the best. I start to get ready and grab my shoes putting them on before heading to the door.

"Mrs. Henderson, everything okay?" I hear someone ask making me jump before turning around quickly to see it just be one of the officers watching over us. Releasing a quick breath, I smile slightly before starting to shake my head. "Yes, everything is just fine. I'm just on my way out." I say before heading down the path and to my car. "I would have to advise against. We were told to watch over you and we can't chance to cause suspicion to follow in the patrol car." he says placing his hand on the door stopping me from opening. Raising an eyebrow, I turn towards the officer before pushing his hand away. "I am going to meet my husband for lunch, you can either follow behind me and hope for the best, or you can get in and come with. Up to you but either way I am going." I say before opening the door.

The officer ended up tagging along after informing his partner who was fine with it. Before long, I make it to the diner and put the car in park. "I don't think I'll need you inside, Alex won't let anything happen to me." I tell the officer who just nods and seems content with sitting in the car and waiting.

Walking inside, I see Alex already sitting at a table and waves me over. "Hey Shorty." He says as he stands to give me a kiss before pulling a chair out for me. "Hi." I say with a smile at my husband being a perfect gentlemen. "What made you want to have lunch? Especially with what's going on." I inquire to him as we order our food. "I just didn't want you home alone, where anything can happen when I'm gone." He answers making my heart swell with the love I have for this man.

Our lunch 'date' was so refreshing and much needed with all the news that gets tossed at us left and right. I know that if Dayton and Brooke did decide to do anything soon, that Alex would have my back like he always does.