Heart of a Stripper (11 page)

“Money is no issue.” He insisted.

“Mitchell, I can’t take your money.” She bit.

“
It’s either that, or you’re going to stay with me.” he insisted again.

“I can’t call
you; I don’t have a cell phone.” She sighed, folding to him.

“Take mines.” He said pulling his iPhone out of his pocket
, and handing it to her.

He opened the theater door for her
, and she acknowledged him as he held it for her. They quietly slipped down the aisle and back to their seat.

“I was beginning to think you got lost.”
Jaxon snickered as Nevaeh sat down. “Or ran from me.”

“No, just grabbed some candy.” She smiled, holding up the Reese’s as he slipped his arm around her.

Mitchell brushed his hand against Nevaeh’s, and she pulled away. Looking over at her, his heart sank as she cuddled Jaxon.

“What took you so long?” Kate inquired
, grabbing his attention.

“The line was long.” He replied
, going to put his arm around her, but she blocked him.

“I don’t know what
you brought all of that junk for. It’s no good for you.” She snapped.

Rolling his eyes, he watched the movie silently.

After the movie, he grabbed Kaitlin by the hand, and quickly escorted her out. He wanted to take her home, so he could go back and pick Nevaeh up. Taking her back to her apartment, she pulled him inside.

“How much did you miss me?” she asked pulling him close to her.

“More than you know.” He smiled uncomfortably.

“Tomorrow’s our engagement party.” She replied, letting him go and taking off her heels.

“Is it?” he frowned.

“Yes!” she shouted spinning around to him. “So you better not be late.”

“I won’t.” he frowned looking down.

“What’s the problem?” she asked glaring at him.

“Why do you love me?” he asked walking over to her.

“Because you’re hot.”
She winked, grabbing him by his collar.

“No,” he said
, grabbing her by the hands. “Seriously.”

Glaring at him, her expression changed.

“Are you trying to pick a fight with me?!” she shouted shoving him away.

“No. I just—why do you want to marry me?” he pushed.

“Because…” she mumbled, looking away. “Because! You know what?! Leave!” she shouted.

“Kate, I didn’t mean it like that—I just—”

“Just get out!” she shouted, cutting him off before shoving him to the door.

Obliging, he opened the door and left. He hadn’t meant to get her pissed off, he just wanted an answer. He just wanted to know that she truly loved him. The
wedding was approaching vastly, and he wasn’t sure he could shake the dreadful feeling that was slowly creeping over him. Throwing the issues to the side, he used his car phone to dial his cell. It rung for a moment until Nevaeh answered.

“Hey, where are you?” he asked putting the key into the ignition.

“Outside my house.” She answered.

“Are you ok?” he asked concerned.

“I’m cold.” He heard her chatter.

“Stay there, I’ll be there soon.” He replied hanging up.

Driving off, he made it there in record time. Just like she said, she was sitting on the porch, wearing his jacket. He hated that she had to live in such circumstances. Unlocking the door, she got in. Settling into the seat, he pulled off as she got warm.

“You can’t make it a habit of being my hero.” She jabbed.

“I’d rather be that then let anything happen to you.” He jabbed back.

“Then I hope you’ll be prepared to see me fall for you more than I already have.” She whispered.

He looked over to her briefly before gripping the steering wheel.

“Nevaeh we talked about this.” He retorted.

“No, you talked and I barely listened.” She snapped. “You can’t just turn my feelings off. I
am
falling in love with you.” She bit.

He let out a stifled breath as he gripped the wheel tighter.

“I don’t know what to do with that.” He answered truthfully.

“Be honest with me!” she shouted. “I’m not a kid! I had to grow up fast. I can handle the truth, but I can’t handle you being here for me and then telling me I mean
nothing
to you.”

“I never said that!” he snapped. “I didn’t like seeing you with
Jaxon tonight ok?! You think I like this any more than you do?” he retorted.

“Then tell me how you feel.” She insisted, as he stopped at a red light.

“I can’t.” he whispered. “I’m the adult here, and it has to stay platonic. That’s all I can offer.”

He looked over to her and saw the pain written all over her face.

“Then I don’t want this. I don’t need your help! I was doing fine without you!” She shouted hopping out of the car and running down the block.

Nevaeh ran as fast as she could to the middle of nowhere. All of her fears were present. It just seemed like no one wanted her around. She was always a burden. So, just like always, she tried to stand on her own two feet as best as she could, but it seemed the cold cruel world had no place for her either.

Mitchell circled the block searching for her, but to no avail. He was always screwing up with her, and it wasn’t fair that he shoved her to the back of his list where things were convenient for him. She was right though, he kept protesting that he wanted nothing to do with her, but his actions showed otherwise. She was his drug, something he couldn’t see himself without, but too ashamed to claim. He was worried about what everyone else would think, and that would always be present.

His father had raised him to be fear stricken of tarnishing their image, so he’d done everything by the book. Everything except live his life the way he wanted
to. He wasn’t stupid, the only reason his father had built him the school was to show off to his friends. He wanted Mitchell to fail, and to come crawling to him begging for a job. But so far Mitchell had proven him wrong. The school had been a success for a year and counting, and Mitchell planned to keep it that way.

After a while of searching for her,
Mitchell had headed back to her house. He was hoping to catch up with her there.

Chapter Ten

Mitchell sat at the bar as he ordered another scotch on the rocks. Drinking really wasn’t his thing, but tonight he was taking them back. Glass after glass. The small fight between him and Nevaeh had rocked him to his very core more than he thought it would. She of all people didn’t deserve to be hurt more than she was. He knew all about growing up too fast because he had to as well. He had technically been mature at an early age too. Age was nothing but a number, and it was evident that Nevaeh was damn sure wise beyond her years. She’d single handedly taken care of her father any way that she could even though he was a bastard.

Mitchell
had waited for her at her house the night before, and she did eventually show up. She refused to talk to him, and headed inside only for her dad to open the door. He pulled her inside and gave Mitchell a curt goodnight before closing the door. While heading back to the car, Mitchell heard them shouting at each other, which led to things being knocked over. Hearing things crash, Mitchell headed back to the door and pounded. No one answered, but he heard Nevaeh scream. That kicked him into high gear, and he tore the damn door off the hinges. Seeing Nevaeh on the floor, he charged her father and proceeded to beat the living hell out of the guy.

Nevaeh had grabbed a few things from her room and fled the house in the midst of the confusion.
Mitchell had called his cell over and over hoping she was ok, but she never answered. Heading home, he couldn’t sleep, nor did he focus at school the next morning because she never showed up.

After work, he had gotten ready for the damn engagement party. To say he was scatterbrained would be putting it lightly. Kaitlin had entertained their guest as he sat at the bar and drank himself into a stupor.

“For a guy who doesn’t drink, it sure seems like you know what you’re doing.” Adam replied sitting beside him.

“I’ve realized drinking isn’t so bad.” He said finishing the glass in his hand.

Adam grabbed the glass and saw the bruises on his friend’s knuckles.

“
Mitchell, what the hell happened?!” he asked concerned.

“
I screwed up Adam, and I don’t know what to do.” He said truthfully.

“What
did
you do?!” he shouted.

“I’m marrying a woman I don’t love.” He said out loud, and Adam opened his eyes wide.

“You don’t mean that.” Adam insisted.

“I do.”
Mitchell said pinching the bridge of his nose. “I don’t know how I got here.”

“Sure you do, you drove.” Adam chuckled, and
Mitchell looked at him stone faced.

Adam’s smile drooped as he realized his friend was being serious.

“Mitchell, you need to go freshened up before dinner.” Adam insisted standing his friend up.

“Adam—”

“Mitchell, Kate will flip if she sees you like this or even hears what you’re saying. If you want to talk after tonight, we can. But right now you need to pull yourself together.” He insisted and Mitchell nodded with a sigh.

He knew his best friend was right. Disappearing from the party, he headed up to a bedroom and went into a bathroom. Washing his face, he stared at himself in the mirror before he heard the door open. Standing quiet, he heard kissing. Cursing to himself, he stood quiet for a moment before peeking through the door. He saw a girl dressed in ruby red
, entangled in a guy’s arms.

“You’re going to smudge my makeup.” The female giggled, as the guy pushed her up against the dresser.

She wrapped her legs around his waist as Mitchell watched.

“I’m going to do more than that.” The guy’s deep voice
rumbled, and he recognized it.

It was his father. How dare the bastard hook up at his own son’s engagement party?

“No, you’re not. Not here.” The female whispered kissing Bruce.

Peering closer,
Mitchell recognized the sparkling red dress. He’d helped Kaitlin slip it on hours earlier at her place. Sucking in a breath as his heart shattered, he stumbled deep into the bathroom.

“It’s not like
Mitchell will notice, that boy’s head is always elsewhere.” Bruce chuckled running his hand up her thigh.

“This is why we always fight. All he cares about is that stupid school!” she shouted.

“He’ll be over that soon and working for me. You just marry him, he needs a girl like you in his life.” Bruce insisted kissing her again before letting her up.

“Why can’t he just be like you? You take me on trips
, and shower me with gifts. He doesn’t even realize why I’m gone.” She sneered, as Mitchell watched them through the crack again.

“Cause I know how to treat a lady. All you want is expensive things
, and I give them to you. I can’t wait to have you in my bed tonight. Don’t worry; you’ll have the best of both worlds.” Bruce replied holding her from behind.

“Exactly, let’s go before he notices we’re gone.
” Kate chuckled sarcastically, before brushing herself off as they disappeared.

Gathering what was left of
himself, Mitchell stalked from the bathroom and hustled down the stairs. Pushing passed a few guest, he slithered from the party, hopped in his car and sped off.

He
zoomed through the traffic and headed down the lonely road. His mind was racing as thoughts of betrayal swiveled through him. Turning off his car, he just sat there as he stared off into space. Gripping the steering wheel, he felt the tears that burned his eyes. He was not going to cry over the heartless bitch that tore his heart out and shredded it. Sucking in a breath, he realized he was shaking. Looking up, he saw the flashing sign hanging from the building.

He
had ended up at the strip club.

Hopping out of the car, he hustled inside the club. Searching the
room, he rummaged the dark space for Nevaeh. Not spotting her, he headed to the stairs and ran up them. Bursting the door open, he saw Honey straddling a guy. Her breasts were bare and in his face. They both looked over at him and he blushed.

“Sorry.” He mumbled shutting the door and running back downstairs.

There, he spotted Nevaeh handing drinks to a few guys. Letting out a sigh of relief, he stalked over to her. Grabbing the tray from her hand, he shoved it to the guy standing beside him.

“What are you doing here?” she asked baffled.

Instead of saying anything, he thought it would be better to show her. Pulling her close, he stared her in the eyes briefly before dipping low and kissing her passionately. After a moment of confusion, she fell into the kiss and entangled her hands in his dark hair. He tasted of alcohol, but his underlying taste was still there. Ending the kiss, he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her with him through the crowd. She willingly followed him as she grabbed him by the hand. He entangled his fingers with hers as they exited the club. Hopping in the car, he drove her back to his place.