Chapter 11

I never thought in my life I would have to close my own store, even if it's temporarily. I know Alex feels sorry for me but if it means I'm safe he doesn't even care. I put a lot of work into owning that store and it feels worthless now seeing all that work theoretically on pause and Shawn won't have a job. After the mention of him my head snaps over to Officer Jackson. "What about Shawn, my employee I can't leave him jobless, I've been cutting his hours enough as it is because of all of this happening at the store." I explain to him as I start to worry over the teenager that loves working here. "For now you're gonna have to tell him to file for temporary unemployment or for him to find a new job." He says as he starts to leave along with everyone else besides me and Alex.

I turn towards Alex after everyone is gone. "Can you give me a minute I have to call Shawn." I say quietly. He gives me a nod before placing a kiss on top of my head. "I'll be waiting outside." I watch as he leaves and closes the door before sighing as I reach for the store phone on my desk. I hear it ring a few times after dialing his number before he answers. "Hello?"

"Hey Shawn, It's Sam. I have some bad new I wish I didn't have to tell you." I say quietly regretting our conversation. "You're not firing me, are you?" He asks making me laugh. "No, I could never do that. It's just with everything happening around the store, the police want me to close it until further notice so you won't have a job temporarily." I explain. I start to feel nervous as I wait for his response. "Oh, that's okay. as long as it is temporarily." He says as I chuckle before giving him a firm yes.

Soon enough, I end the phone call promising to call him the second I open the sore back up before leaving and locking up and heading home with Alex. "You ready Shorty?" He asks me as I turn towards him after locking the doors. "Yeah, I guess so. Don't really have much of a choice in the matter." I say as I brush past him to head to his car. "Hey, wait. What's wrong?" Alex pulls me to a stop as he asks me. I spin around to face him before giving him an irritated look. "What's wrong?! what's wrong is, Dayton is once again ruining my life without even lifting a finger. That's what's wrong." I say slightly fuming at the fact that he doesn't get it before continuing. "I have worked so hard to make this place what it is and because of the notes and stalking, I have to put it on hold until further notice." I don't even let Alex put a word in as I get in the car and wait for him to take me home.

"It'll be okay, we'll get through this." He tells me softly as he gets in the car as well. "Just take me home." I whisper in response and lean my head against the cool glass of the window. Without any more words exchanged, Alex starts the car and begins driving. The short ride is quiet as I have nothing left to say about it and I'm sure Alex doesn't know what to say to me right now without making me even more angry than I already am.

After a short bit we made it home and I immediately get out not wanting to hear anything else about my store and head to the front door. After unlocking it, I head inside and throw myself down on top of the couch as I hear Alex come in. "Shorty, it'll be okay I promise. It'll be over soon." He says as he gently sits beside me and places his hand on my back for soothing comfort. "It's not okay Alex, it will never be okay. No until he is out of our lives for good." I mumble while my head is buried into the couch pillows.

I feel Alex place his hands around my body as he lifts me up to face him. "I have a crazy suggestion. One that will probably get us into trouble." He tells me with a smirk on his face. curiously I tilt my head to the side as I look at him questionably. "What are you talking about?" I ask him not having a clue as to what he is up to now. "I'm talking about me and you going on a little mini vacation. Just me and you, no cops, no worries, no Dayton." He says to me as I feel a small smile creeping onto my face. "The police won't let us leave without one of them coming with us you know that." I say as he chuckles and shakes his head. "That's why I already told Officer Jackson baby, he agreed and that we, and especially you, need a little time to ourselves. He feels bad about forcing you to close the store and this is his way of making it up to you." He tells me as my smile widens while I think over my next words. "Where do we go?" I ask him as he returns my smile before heading to the laptop on the table.

"That's the beauty of this. It's a surprise for you and relaxation for the both of us." He says as he begins typing on his laptop. "What are you doing?" I ask while trying to see what's on the screen. He swiftly turns the laptop in a position to where I can't see the screen before shutting it. "I just booked us tickets to the place we will go and you will not know until we get there." He says as he gets up and heads upstairs. I get up and follow as well to see him heading to the bedroom and packing suitcases for the both of us. "Okay then, how long we will be gone?" I ask trying to at least know one thing about this trip.

"It'll be a couple weeks and we leave as soon as you're ready Shorty." Alex says as he finishes up packing and turning to me as he holds out my suitcase for me to take. "alright then. Let's go." I say before heading out to the car.