Addicted

Chapter 16

Indie

The days at the estate were flying by now that I had my design room.

I’d been spending most of my time holed up in there, sketching, sewing, creating.

Losing myself in the work I’d always dreamed of doing but never had time for.

I’d already made a couple of dresses and some matching sets; a crop top with high-waisted pants, another with shorts, and one with a mini skirt.

All custom pieces that I’d designed from scratch.

Stone was impressed by my work.

He’d come into the room a few times over the past week, watching me silently as I worked. Then he’d walk over, look at what I’d made, and tell me it was fire.

It made me feel good. Made me feel seen in a way I hadn’t felt in years.

Now that I had the design room, it didn’t piss me off as much when Stone had to stay in LA overnight for business. Don’t get me wrong, I still missed him when he was gone. But the design room made up for it. Gave me something to focus on besides waiting for him to come back.

Today was a Saturday, and Aurora would be coming over for a barbecue, along with a few of Stone’s friends who I’d never met.

I was looking forward to mingling tonight. Looking forward to feeling like a normal couple. I paused mid-thought, realizing what I’d just said to myself.

A normal couple.

I’d just thought of myself and Stone as a couple. But that’s what we were, weren’t we?

I mean, I lived with him. Slept in his bed every night. He bought me everything I could ever want. He was possessive as hell over me, and I was starting to feel the same way about him.

We hadn’t put a label on it, but what else would you call this?

I thought back to the day he’d surprised me with the design room.

After we had sex, after he’d fucked me so good I could barely think straight, I really thought he was going to say he loved me.

He didn’t say it.

But the look in his eyes wasn’t the same as the usual crazed, obsessive look he typically gave me. I mean, he still had that look, but it was softened by something deeper. Something that had made my breath catch and my heart start to race.

I shook the thought off and walked over to my closet, trying to decide what I was going to wear.

Stone had arranged for someone to pick Aurora up and bring her to the estate, and she should be arriving in the next hour, along with Stone’s guests.

I stood inside the walk-in closet, running my fingers over the racks of designer clothes. I was still getting used to the fact that all of it was mine to choose form.

Eventually, I settled on something that felt right.

A black Balmain top cut close to my body, paired with distressed Givenchy denim that hugged every curve like it had been made for me.

I slipped into a pair of cute heels and kept everything else minimal.

Just diamond hoops and a matching necklace resting at my collarbone.

I ventured out of the master bedroom to find Ishmael. He was in his bedroom, sitting on the edge of his bed with a controller in his hands, playing some game on his Xbox.

He looked up when he saw me enter.

“Damn, sis,” he said, pausing the game. “You look good.”

I smiled. “Thank you, baby.” I walked over and sat down next to him on the bed. “Listen,” I said. “We got people coming over in a little bit for a barbecue. I need you to make sure you come out and speak to our guests when they get here, okay?”

Ish rolled his eyes. “Do I have to?”

I gave him a look. “Yes, you have to. Don’t be rude.”

He sighed heavily, like I was asking him to do the most difficult thing in the world.

“Aight, fine,” he said. “I’ll come out and speak.”

“Thank you,” I said, standing up. “And don’t stay in here all day. Come hang out for a little bit.”

“I will,” he said, already unpausing his game.

I shook my head, smiling as I left his room.

I made my way downstairs and headed toward the outdoor kitchen where I knew Brady would be putting the finishing touches on the feast he’d prepared.

When I stepped outside, the smell hit me immediately. Barbecued chicken, ribs, burgers, hot dogs. All perfectly seasoned and grilled to perfection.

Brady was standing at the grill, flipping a rack of ribs with expert precision.

On the long outdoor table, there were trays of macaroni and cheese, roasted potatoes with herbs, collard greens, baked beans, coleslaw, and cornbread.

My eyes lingered on it for a second, because it wasn’t Brady’s. I’d made that.

The rest of the food—everything else on the table—that was all Brady. But the cornbread… that was mine.

The night before came back to me without warning. Stone had been lying next to me in bed while I watched some TV show, watching me the way he always did, with a quiet intensity that I’d grown used to.

“Can you make some more of that cornbread for tomorrow? Like you did before,” he’d said.

His request caught me off guard. And when I didn’t answer right away, he’d added, “Please.”

I blinked, the memory hitting me heavier than I expected.

Stone didn’t ask for shit. He demanded it. But he’d looked at me in the dark and said please. How the hell was I supposed to say no to that?

“Brady,” I said, walking over to him. “This looks amazing.”

It really did look like a damn cookout straight out of a magazine.

He looked up and smiled. “Thank you, Miss Indie. I wanted to make sure everything was perfect for your guests.”

“You did that,” I said, looking over the spread again. “Seriously, this is incredible. Thank you so much.”

“My pleasure,” he said, turning back to the grill.

I was about to go find Stone in his office when Ava appeared in the doorway.

“Miss Indie,” she said. “Your guest has arrived.”

My heart jumped. Aurora was here.

I hurried inside and made my way to the front of the house, practically running to the driveway.

When I stepped outside, I saw a blacked-out SUV parked near the entrance. The back door opened, and Aurora stepped out.

Our eyes locked and she squealed so loud I thought the neighbors three miles away could hear her.

“Bitch!” she screamed, throwing her arms in the air. “Look at this fuckin’ mansion! My bestie living large! As you should!”

I laughed so hard I almost doubled over. I ran over to her and pulled her into a tight hug.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” I said.

“Girl, are you kidding?” Aurora said, pulling back to look at me. “I’ve been counting down the days. Now show me around this palace!”

I grabbed her hand and led her inside.

***

I gave Aurora the full tour.

Showed her the kitchen, the living room, the theater room, the game room, the gym. Her commentary the entire time had me damn near in tears with laughter.

“This kitchen is bigger than my whole apartment!” she said, running her hand over the marble countertops.

“Wait, y’all got a whole theater? With recliners and shit? Indie, what the fuck!” she said when I showed her the media room.

When we walked into the main living room, her eyes landed on a big ass painting on the wall. She looked at me and exclaimed, “Bitch, you got a Picasso in yo’ house?”

We both just busted out laughing when she said that shit. She knew ATL was my movie.

By the time we made it to my design room, I was laughing so hard my stomach hurt.

Aurora stepped inside and her mouth fell open.

“Oh my God,” she said, walking over to the sewing machines. “Indie, this is crazy.”

She walked around the room, touching the fabrics, looking at the sketches I had pinned to the wall, examining the dresses and matching sets I’d already made.

“Girl, you made these?” she asked, holding up one of the dresses.

“Yeah,” I said, smiling.

“These look so good,” she said, looking at the stitching. “Like, you could sell this shit. For real.”

“You think so?” I asked.

“Hell yeah,” she said. “You’re talented as fuck, Indie. You always have been.”

I felt my chest swell with pride.

Before I could respond, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned around and saw Stone standing in the doorway.

He was wearing that blank expression he usually did, the one that made him look intimidating as hell.

Aurora’s eyes went wide when she saw him.

I could tell she was taking him in. His height, his build, his tattoos, the cold look in his eyes.

“Aurora,” I said, walking over to Stone. “This is Stone. Stone, this is my best friend, Aurora.”

Stone’s eyes flicked to Aurora, and he gave her a slight nod.

“What’s good,” he said, his voice low.

Aurora smiled nervously. “Hey. Thanks for, uh, letting me come through. And for spoiling my bestie like this.”

She gestured around the design room, and I saw the corner of Stone’s mouth twitch.

Almost like he wanted to smirk.

“She deserves it,” he said simply. Then he looked at me. “My niggas just pulled up. Y’all ready to come outside?”

I nodded. “Yeah, we’re coming.”

Stone turned and walked out, and Aurora immediately grabbed my arm.

“Girl,” she whispered. “He is fine as hell. And scary as hell. But mostly fine.”

I laughed. “Come on.”

Aurora and I followed Stone out into the backyard where his guests were already mingling.

There was music playing from the outdoor speakers. Something with a smooth beat, low enough to allow conversation but still loud enough to catch a vibe.

Three men and one woman were standing near the outdoor bar, talking and laughing.

Stone walked over to them, and I followed with Aurora by my side.

“Yo,” Stone said, getting their attention. “This is Indie. And this is her friend, Aurora.”

Everyone turned to look at us. A light-skinned dude with a fade and a diamond chain around his neck smiled wide.

“So, this is the woman who got Stone acting like a loverboy,” he said, his voice teasing.

Stone glared at him. “Kenzo, shut the fuck up.”

Kenzo laughed, not fazed in the slightest. “I’m just saying, bro. You out here throwing barbecues and shit. That’s new.”

The other two men chuckled.

One of them was dark-skinned with locs and a serious face. He stepped forward and extended his hand.

“I’m Antoine,” he said. “Nice to meet you.”

I shook his hand. “Nice to meet you too.”

The third man, who had a stocky build and a goatee, nodded at me. “Deacon.”