Chapter 2 Indi
TWO
INDI
An unfamiliar ring broke through the silence of my room as I slept. I could hear it in my hazy dreams, disrupting them. I tried rolling over, as if that would make it stop. It didn’t. The sound just kept going and going until I couldn’t take it anymore.
“Uhh! What the fuck is that sound?” I groaned, keeping my eyes shut.
The ring ended for a moment. “Thank god.” Then it quickly returned.
“Fuck me—Mary-Jane!” I shot up with heavy eyes and half expected to see her standing there with her phone.
But to my surprise, I was alone in my bedroom.
No Mary-Jane or anyone else. Just me, Kush, and that fucking ringing.
My eyes adjusted to the peeking sunlight from the windows as I searched for the cause of the odd sound. “Where are you?” I searched around my bed, tossing pillows and blankets all over the room until I finally found it.
I had to look twice as I noticed the sound seemed to be coming…
from the cat. “Kush?” The sleeping cat was curled up next to me, passed out.
I swear the sound was coming from within him.
“Kush, did you eat a phone or something?” The cat slowly stretched and moved, purring as he revealed an unfamiliar phone beneath him.
“What?” I picked it up as the bedroom door swung open.
“Jesus Christ, Indi! Would you turn your fucking phone off?” Mary-Jane shouted, half awake. “Fuck, it’s too early for this shit.”
I hid the phone between my knees, silencing it as I looked at her. “My bad.” She groaned and stomped away, leaving my bedroom door open.
Someone’s not a morning person.
I looked back down at the phone. It seemed new and was in a neon green and pink case that had a cute little hemp leaf pattern.
The phone vibrated and lit up, showing me the screensaver.
It was a photo of me, sleeping next to Kush.
And I was wearing the pajamas I am in now.
“What the—” I swiped the unlocked phone open and saw a number of missed calls, all from the same number, saved under the name: Masked Admirer.
“Who the fuck is this? Kush, who left this?” The cat yawned and laid back down.
The phone vibrated again. I tapped the screen and saw a text from Masked Admirer. “What?” I tapped the message.
Still sleeping in I see.
My eyes widened, and a second text quickly came in.
Hope you don’t mind, but I snuck in and left this with our little pothead.
I read the text again, instantly relaxing. It was Haze. I nearly squealed from how happy I was. Not only did I have a way to talk to him, but he was actually responding.
A third text came in before I could even reply.
I told Felix what you said, and he found a way for us to chat. Let’s just say…I owe him a favor. But you can’t tell anyone about this, understood?
I sent a reply: I understand. Nice name by the way. So original.
He responded almost immediately.
Funny, isn’t it? Better than Felix’s idea. He wanted to put me under Hazelnut. Fucking dick.
I giggled to myself.
Oh, and as for the apartment situation, I got that under control too.
A knock at the front door made me jump. I quietly rushed to it and opened the door to see Aiden on the other side. “Aiden?” I looked around, half expecting to see Haze. “What’re you doing here?”
He smiled and made a face. “I’m here as a favor. Get dressed, we’re going to be late.”
“For what?” I blinked. “It’s early in the morning?”
He grinned and rocked on his toes. “Apartment shopping. Haze took care of everything, and I’m here to escort you.”
The phone vibrated again as a fourth text came through.
Surprise.
***PAGE brEAK***
“Wow.” I stepped into the apartment, admiring the open space inside.
“This place is beautiful!” I gazed at the lifted ceilings and modern, open-concept design.
Aiden, myself, and the realtor walked into the large open kitchen.
It was enormous, bigger than my room at Mary-Jane’s.
It had brand new cabinets that wrapped around the entire area with black marble counters and accents.
Perfect for a professional baker.
Out of all the apartments we toured, this one had by far been my favorite.
The realtor stepped past us both and pointed to the appliances.
“Everything you see is brand new, as the whole building was only just completed. You’ve got ergonomic designs with a wraparound island, more than enough counter space, and high-performance appliances.
It’s really the best kitchen money can buy, giving you the perfect space for family meals and hosting. ”
I smiled, thinking about Haze. “It’s beautiful. I could see so much baking happening in this room.”
The man grinned. “Oh, are you a baker?” he asked with a bit of enthusiasm.
Aiden shot him a glance as I shook my head. “No, no. The most I can bake is a boxed cake, and even those I screw it up.” I laughed softly. “No, my brother is a professional baker.”
The realtor looked past me at Aiden. “Forgive me, I assumed you two were a couple.”
Aiden and I shot each other a look and nearly busted out laughing. “Oh no, he’s just a friend. Well, more like family. My brother—well, he couldn’t make it. But the kitchen is where he shines.”
Next to the bedroom.
The realtor flicked his eyebrow. “I see. So you’ll be living here alone?”
I stopped, not really knowing how to answer the man’s question. I mean, sure I’d technically be living alone, but what about Haze? I never really considered if he’d even be allowed to stay here with me.
“Um, what about the fireplace?” I switched the topic. “Gas or wood?”
The man followed my direction, focusing on the large fireplace.
“Gas. It’s perfect for days like today. You can light it up and keep warm without worrying about that smoky smell you get with traditional wood-burning fireplaces.
And if you look here, you can see the entire exterior of the apartment is all glass. Same as the bedroom.”
A full glass wall in the bedroom? Really defeats the purpose of privacy, doesn’t it.
“Is it only one room?” I asked.
The realtor nodded. “Would you like to see it?” He motioned me towards the modern stairs when I heard a camera. I turned around to see Aiden standing in the kitchen, taking a selfie in front of the exquisite stove. “Aiden, what are you doing?”
He looked over at me and smiled. “Sending your brother updates. I figured he’d want to see everything.
” He posed with a silly face and took a second selfie.
“Oh, cool fireplace!” Aiden ran over and snapped another photo in front of it.
He looked over at the glass wall and whistled.
“You can see the whole countryside from here.”
The countryside was one of the reasons I liked this place so much. The building was brand new, with no existing tenants, leaving me to have my pick of apartments. While the place was completely modernized, it was located quite a ways from town, and completely isolated.
Maybe that’s why they made the exterior pure glass?
“Wait, if you can see out, does that mean animals can see in?” He looked at me. “Better close your blinds at night, who knows what a squirrel might see. Imagine locking eyes with one in the middle of—” He stopped. “Well, you know.”
I laughed and grabbed his arm, pulling him up the stairs until we found the realtor waiting in the bedroom.
Aiden continued to snap ridiculous selfies as I tried to listen to the realtor.
It was hard to focus when all I could imagine was Haze and I living here, together, in our little paradise. What a dream.
The man continued to explain the apartment features while taking us on a quick tour, eventually bringing us back to the downstairs living room.
He then went over the policies and procedures of the rental application and began to talk numbers when I cut him off.
“Wait, I’m sorry, but how much did you say this place was?
” He repeated the price and my stomach dropped.
There’s no way I can afford this place.
“C-can you give me a minute? Just one minute.” The realtor nodded, eyeing Aiden, who was looking out the giant living room glass window.
I pulled out the burner phone and opened my texts.
How’s the apartment? Haze asked.
I texted back. It’s perfect, except I can’t fucking afford it.
That’s not what I asked.
“Excuse me.” I hid the phone as the realtor appeared at my side.
“Is there a problem?” I shook my head. “You know, if price is an issue—” He leaned close, and I noticed his eyes fall to my chest. “I’m sure we can come to an understanding.
” He reached out and tucked my hair behind my pierced ear. The entire thing made me uneasy.
My phone vibrated, and I excused myself, walking back over to Aiden. He looked at me and instantly noticed the change in my behavior. “Everything okay, Indi?”
I looked up at him. “Yeah, just—that guy’s a creep. Pretty sure he tried to hit on me.”
“What?”
I nodded. “Call me crazy, but I think he offered to lower the price…for sex.”
Aiden’s face hardened and he snapped to look back at the realtor, now busy swiping away at his phone. “Want me to handle him?”
I shook my head and opened my texts. “No, I’m fine.” I read Haze’s text.
Indi, do you want the apartment? Yes or no.
I looked around, admiring the modern apartment, perfectly located away from prying eyes and suited for us. It had everything I ever wanted. For us.
I replied: Yes.
My phone vibrated. Good. Leave the rest to me.