AJ opened the passenger side door of the car and Mack slid into the seat. He had just closed the door and started around the front of the car when a red convertible pulled into the drive. "Shit," AJ said to himself. Mackenzie caught sight of the newcomer in the rearview mirror and laid her head in her hand. "Today only wanted this," she sighed as Marissa got out of her car.
"Hey, baby," AJ said, kissing Marissa's cheek.
"Hey yourself," she said, glaring at the other girl. "Going someplace?"
"I gotta take Mack home," he told her, "and pick up my car."
"Just where is your car?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
"It's at Kevin's," AJ explained. "I was gonna call him from Mack's and have him pick me up. But since you're here," he continued, "you can just follow me. Then we'll swing by Kev's."
"I've got a better idea," Marissa said silkily, throwing Mackenzie a contemptuous look. "I'll just take you to Kevin's now, and Mackenzie can drive her own self home."
"She's not feeling well, Marissa," AJ said, beginning to become annoyed with her attitude. "I want to make sure she gets home all right."
"Well, I don't have time to follow you all over town," Marissa said snottily. "Besides, she pouted, "She doesn't look sick to me. I mean, she doesn't look any worse than she usually does," she added cattily, glaring at Mack. Mackenzie rolled her eyes and wondered for the umpteenth time what Alex saw in Marissa.
"If you're too busy to help me out Marissa," Alex said coldly, "I understand. I'm sure Kevin won't mind picking me up. We need to work on a song we've been writing anyway."
"I didn't say I wouldn't do it," she said quickly, changing her mind. She knew AJ was spending a lot of time with Mackenzie now that she was back in town and Marissa intended to put a stop to it.
"Well, come on then," Alex said impatiently. "I need to get Mackenzie home."
Marissa stalked to her car, fuming. She didn't know why she put up with him. He hadn't been faithful when they were together before and apparently he wasn't now either. She'd been thrilled when she found out that Amanda had dumped him, and she had made sure she was there to console his broken heart. She'd be damned if she let someone come between them again.
"I'll never understand," Mackenzie said as Alex got in the car. "What's that, sweetheart?" he asked.
"I'll never understand what you see in her," she said.
"She's not as bad as you make her out, Mack," he told her. "I'll never understand why the two of you can't get along." Mackenzie made a rude noise. "Well, you wouldn't," she said, watching the scenery out the window. After a long moment she said, "She's just so phony."
"Oh," Alex said, "and this observation comes from the woman who was engaged to Charles Abercrombie the Third." When Mack didn't respond to his barb, he glanced over to see her furtively wipe away a tear. He reached over and grasped her hand. "I'm sorry, Mack," he said sincerely. "I shouldn't have said that. I'm a pig."
She smiled. "It's good to find a man who knows himself so well," she teased.
"It's good to see you smile today, finally," he told her.
"Well," she giggled, "it's hard to smile and puke at the same time."
"I know," Alex said solemnly, "the chunks keep getting caught in your teeth!"
******************************************
It wasn't long before AJ pulled into Mackenzie's drive, Marissa right behind them. "I'll walk you to the door," Alex said, getting out of the car and walking around to open Mack's door. "You sure?" she questioned, glancing around at the car behind them. "Marissa looks mad enough to spit."
"Yeah, come on," he said, holding out his hand to help her out. He walked her to the porch and unlocked the front door, opening it slightly. As he handed the keys to her he said, "You look like hell, girl. Go to bed and stay there."
"Be careful," she warned, "or you'll turn my head with all that sweet talk."
"Yeah, right," he laughed as Marissa began blowing the horn. "I think that's my cue. You need anything, you call me, okay?" he told her, turning to leave.
"AJ?"
"Yeah?" he said, raising his eyebrows and stepping back towards her. "Thanks," she said, putting her hand on his chest and reaching up to place a soft kiss on his lips. Alex stared after her as she went inside and closed the door. He touched his lips, still feeling the sweet kiss she'd given him. "Damn," he whispered.
*************************************
Alex strolled to the car and opened the driver's side door, motioning for Marissa to slide over. She stared at him balefully as she moved to the passenger seat. "What?" Alex said. She tossed a newspaper in his lap. "BACKSTREET BOY TO WED MYSTERY LADY" screamed the headline over a picture of him and Mackenzie with her engagement ring prominently displayed. AJ tossed the paper back at Marissa as he backed the car out into the road. "You've been in the business long enough to know better than to believe anything those rags print," he told her.
"That's not the point," she said.
"So what is?" he asked.
"She's only been back for a week," Marissa said, "and you've spent so much time with her that it's already in the tabloids. And it's all over the Internet, too!"
"I've been spending time with her because I haven't seen her in seven years. She's a good friend." Alex sighed impatiently. "I can't do anything about what gets printed or what people say on the Internet. Just ignore it," he told her curtly.
"It would be easier to ignore," she said hatefully, "if you hadn't spent the night with her last night!" AJ considered denying her accusation but thought better of it. "Not the way you're implying, Marissa," he said.
"Well just what way did you fuck her?" she cried.
"I didn't fuck her at all," he said hotly. "Geez, Marissa! She's Howie's cousin for God's sake!"
"So?" she glared at him.
"So can we not do this today?" he said. "I'm on the road frickin' nine months out of the year. I don't need this when I come home."
Marissa's face was red with anger and her mouth gaped open. "Well, if you would keep your dick in your pants when you're on the road, I might be a little more pleasant when you're home!" she shouted. AJ was just as angry as Marissa now and he couldn't wait to get to Kevin's and be rid of her. "I haven't screwed around on you, Marissa, and you know it. Can you say the same?"
Marissa couldn't believe he was actually asking her that question. She was sure he didn't really know anything. After all, she'd been much more discreet than he'd ever been. Before she could answer, AJ swung the car into Kevin's drive behind his own. He was opening his door and getting out almost before he'd even come to a stop. Kevin had seen them pull up and was walking down the drive to meet them. "Hey Bone, Marissa," he greeted them.
Marissa cast him a sultry look as she slid back behind the wheel. "You know, guys, I could just stay and hang out here with you for awhile," she said.
"Nah, baby," AJ said. "Kevin and I have to do some serious work on that song or we'll never finish it. I'll call you later," he told her.
"Well, don't call too late," she pouted, holding her face up for his kiss. The guys stood and watched as Marissa backed out of the drive and headed down the street.
Kevin slapped AJ on the back as they walked to the
front
door. "So Bro, just what song is it we're working on?"
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