Loving A Stripper

Chapter 10

"Jessica!" Alena squealed as she embraced her best friend.

"Hey Alena! It is so good to see you!" Jessica exclaimed.

The girls chatted while they browsed the various stores.

"So Alena, what is the deal with you and Royce now?" Jessica questioned.

Alena smiled, "He basically said he cares about me and has for a long time. He wants us to be together."

"Woah, really?" Jessica replied.

Alena nodded.

"Jessica, I think I'm really falling for him," Alena confided.

Jessica smiled, "That's great! You deserve someone special in your life and didn't I totally call it?"

"Call what?" Alena asked.

"I knew he had a thing for you," Jessica grinned.

The girls both giggled.

"OK, OK. You totally called it. You're always good at these sorts of things," Alena replied.

"Well, I mean he's pretty good looking, he's loaded, you like his kid, and he's totally been in love with you forever. It was a really hard one to figure out," Jessica replied.

"Oh, whatever. He has not been in love with me forever," Alena retorted.

"What about the time you had a flat tire?" Jessica questioned.

"He came and fixed it," Alena replied sheepishly.

"What about the time..." Jessica began but was quickly interrupted.

"What about the time when the washing machine broke and Aaron came and fixed it?" Alena replied.

"By fixed it you mean bought me a new one?" Jessica replied.

"That was such a mess. It over flowed and remember you used every single towel in the house to soak up all the water?" Alena said.

The two laughed.

Jessica smiled and shrugged her shoulders, "Yeah, sorry about that."

"So, what is the deal with Aaron?" Alena questioned.

"He has been super protective of me since... well— you know what happened," Jessica said.

Alena nodded.

Jessica smirked as she saw two younger guys trying to make eyes at her and Alena.

"I guess we still have it," she said as she slightly nodded her heads towards the young duo.

"Must be a stripper thing," Alena replied as she winked at her friend.

The two giggled.

"Back to you and Aaron," Alena pressed.

Jessica continued, "I mean I have feelings for him but I want a guy who will truly love me, someone who will make a great dad and a guy who is ready to settle down. Not someone who owns a strip club. I mean I think if I do ever meet someone I won't tell them about me being a stripper."

"I understand. Those were my sentiments exactly," Alena replied.

"I am finishing nursing school in a few months and I can finally leave the club and everything behind me. Who knows, maybe I will meet a hot doctor!" Jessica exclaimed.

Alena smiled. Jessica always knew how to lighten up any situation.

"I think you should still give him a chance. He is kind of a sleaze but he's really come along way over the past couple of months. He cares about you. He's there anytime you need him," Alena asserted.

"Maybe... I just don't know," Jessica sighed.

"Well, whatever you do just listen to your heart," Alena replied.

The girls continued to shop for awhile.

"Oh my gosh, Alena— I almost forgot. There is something really important we need to talk about," Jessica said suddenly.

Alena gave Jessica a confused look.

"What did Aaron do now?" Alena questioned.

Jessica shook her head, "No, it's serious. Some of the girls who work at the club were approached by Blake."

"What do you mean?" Alena grew confused with a small feeling of fear creeping up her spine.

"He has been offering the other girls money if they give him your phone number, address... you know other important information," Jessica said.

"Are you serious?" Alena replied.

Jessica nodded.

"I'll have to talk to Royce. He won't be happy," Alena said.

"Just be careful, OK?" Jessica added.

Alena nodded, "Yeah, I always am."

The girls parted ways. Alena went home to get ready for dinner with Royce and Jessica headed off to work the club for the night.

Alena unlocked the door to Royce's apartment and began to put her things away. It felt weird but at the same time it felt very right to come home to Royce's place.

She straightened up the apartment a little before slipping into the shower.

She showered and then began to get ready. She applied her makeup. She then blow dried her hair and put on a little perfume.

Alena stared into the mirror as she applied a few final touches to her makeup. She wanted to look perfect for tonight.

She took the tags off of her new dress and took her new high heels out of their box.

She changed into her new dress and shoes and continued to stare into the mirror. She felt nervous. She couldn't remember the last time she went on a date. She thought for a minute. She hadn't been on a date since her senior year of high school.

She shook her head.

Tonight will be fun, she reminded herself.

She heard Royce unlock the door and made her way towards the living room.

"Wow," Royce said somewhat speechless as Alena approached him.

"I'm ready when you are," Alena smiled.

He grinned moving in closer to her.

"Are you sure we have to go out?" he said before bringing her in for a soft kiss.

He continued to kiss her softly before reluctantly pulling away, "OK, OK. We better go or I swear I'll stay here and kiss you all night."