Loving A Stripper

Chapter 15

Royce, Alena and Gavin sat around the kitchen table eating popcorn and playing board games. 

Alena smiled as Gavin and Royce laughed.

It feels so right to be here. I feel so happy and warm, she thought to herself.

Alena heard a light chime sound and looked over on the counter to see her cell phone go off. She retrieved it and read Jessica's message.

"Oh goodness," Alena exclaimed.

"What?" Royce said looking up at her.

Alena looked up at Royce with a guilty look on her face.

"Jessica just texted me and told me Blake came over to her house," she replied softly.

"Is she OK?" Royce replied quickly.

"Yeah, she's fine. She said she's going to stay with Aaron," she replied.

Royce looked at the clock.

"Oi runt, you better change into your PJs and brush your teeth," Royce said turning to Gavin.

"Ohhh. Do I have to?" Gavin groaned.

"Yeah, you got karate tomorrow remember? You better rest up," Royce replied.

"Oh yeah! Will you and Alena come watch me at practice?" he replied excitedly.

"You know we will," Royce replied warmly.

Gavin went to change and brush his teeth. Alena made sure he flossed and sat down at the side of his bed talking to him for a few minutes. She read him part of a story Royce had started before he drifted off to sleep.

Alena made her way into Royce's room to find him looking over some business papers. He put them down as soon as he noticed she was in the room.

"I'm worried about that crazy prick coming after you or Jessica," Royce said looking into Alena's beautiful blue-grey eyes. It was hard to talk to her at times; she was so beautiful it made him feel weak and tongue-tied. He wondered if she knew how beautiful she was.

"I know. I feel so guilty. This is all my fault Royce," Alena replied.

She looked sadly into Royce's hazel eyes.

"No, it's my fault," Royce replied.

"Why on earth would it be your fault?" Alena questioned.

"Because I should have paid you more money, I should have told you how I felt, I shouldn't have taken you for granted, I should have made you move in sooner and I should have taken care of you," he said softly.

"Royce," she began as she gently grabbed his hand. "I used to be so self-sufficient. I did good. I moved to the city and started going to nursing school. I met Jessica and Lisa at school and everything was fine."

Alena sighed, "Then my grandfather became very ill and couldn't work anymore. My mother can only work part time because she has to take care of him. My dad died when I was really young and I just didn't want to see her have to struggle anymore."

Royce nodded.

"I wanted to help. I wanted to make her proud. I know it sounds like an oxymoron that I wanted to make her proud but I was working as a stripper. Jessica had started working at Aaron's club to pay for nursing school especially since she comes from a very poor family and she also has a little brother to support. Well, after Jessica started working at the club, myself and Lisa also started working there. I would work for you during the day, go to night school three nights and week and work at the club a little during the week and every weekend. I was able to pay for school, pay rent to Jessica and send my mom money too," Alena confided.