Chapter 20 #3
A minute later, Kenzo and Aurora appeared, holding hands. Aurora looked stunning in a soft yellow sundress that moved with every step, the color glowing against her skin. Kenzo kept it relaxed in a fitted tee and lightweight shorts.
“This is insane,” Aurora said, her eyes wide as she took in the beach setup. “Indie, pinch me. I think I’m dreaming.”
I laughed. “Girl, I’ve been pinching myself all day.”
Kenzo pulled out Aurora’s chair for her before sitting down himself, and I caught the way she looked at him, all soft and grateful. They were getting serious.
A few minutes later, Ish and Destiny appeared, walking slowly down the beach path. Ish was wearing designer shorts with a matching shirt, looking clean and put together. Destiny had on a cute pink dress.
But what caught my attention was the way Ish was holding Destiny’s hand, looking down at her like she was the only person in the world. My baby brother was in love.
They sat down at the end of the table, and Destiny smiled shyly at everyone.
“Thank you so much for inviting me,” she said sweetly. “This is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen.”
“I told you, you’re family now,” I said, meaning it. “You’re always welcome.”
Ish squeezed her hand, and I saw him mouth “I told you” to her.
The waiter came back with our drinks, and everyone ordered theirs.
As we waited for the food, Stone’s hand found mine under the table, his thumb rubbing circles on my palm. I looked at him, and he was already looking at me with that intense gaze that still made my stomach flip.
“You happy, baby?” he asked quietly, just for me.
“More than I’ve ever been,” I said.
He brought my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles, and I heard Aurora make a soft “aww” sound across the table.
The first course came out. It was some kind of fancy seafood appetizer. Kenzo picked up his fork, examining it.
“Yo, what is this?” he asked, poking at it.
“I don’t know, nigga,” Stone said. “Try it.”
Kenzo took a bite and his eyebrows shot up. “Damn, that’s good as fuck.”
“Everything’s good as fuck when we eating at a private villa on an island. Ain’t that right, Indie?” Aurora said, grinning at me.
“Facts,” I agreed, raising my glass.
As the courses kept coming, the conversation flowed naturally. Destiny told us about her college plans, how she wanted to study psychology. Stone actually engaged, asking her questions about her goals. I watched him, surprised and touched by how genuinely interested he seemed.
“That’s smart,” Stone said. “You got a good head on your shoulders. Keep Ish in line.”
Destiny blushed. “I try.”
“She does more than try,” Ish said, looking at her with pride. “She keep me focused.”
I reached over and squeezed my brother’s shoulder, grateful that he’d found someone good.
Halfway through the main course, Aurora started telling a story about a customer at the club.
“Wait,” she said, setting her fork down. “This dude from the other night irritated me for real.”
Kenzo glanced at her, already amused. “What he do?”
“I thought he was a normal customer at first,” she said. “Quiet, polite… all that.”
I raised a brow. “Already wrong.”
“Exactly,” Aurora said. “Five minutes in, he start talking about how he don’t believe in throwing money.”
Kenzo leaned back. “That’s when you walk off.”
“I tried to give him a chance,” she said. “Then he gon’ say, ‘I prefer meaningful connections over transactions’.”
I blinked. “In the club?”
“In the club,” she repeated.
Stone’s mouth twitched slightly.
Aurora shook her head. “So I said, ‘That’s cool. You still gotta pay for the connection in here.’”
Kenzo laughed. “What he say?” he asked.
Aurora picked her fork back up. “Nothing. The nigga finished his drink and left.”
“As he should,” Kenzo muttered.
Aurora shrugged. “I don’t mind conversation. Just not for free.”
Stone nodded once. “Fair.”
“You be having the weird ones,” Kenzo said.
Aurora smiled, a little smug. “But I always catch ‘em early though. They ain’t about to waste my time.”
Kenzo leaned over, pressing a quick kiss to her temple. “And if them niggas do try you, I’m on they ass.”
I couldn’t help smiling at the easy affection between them.
As dessert was being served, some kind of chocolate lava cake situation, Stone leaned back in his chair and looked around the table.
“Y’all know this is just the first of many trips, right?” he said. “We gon’ do this more often. Family trips. All of us.”
My heart squeezed. Family. That’s what we were now.
“Hell yeah,” Ish said, and Destiny nodded enthusiastically.
“I’m down,” Aurora added.
“Damn right. Good food, good drank, big villas—all on Stone’s dime,” Kenzo said with a grin on his face.
We all laughed, including Stone.
I looked at him, and he was staring at me with that possessive, loving gaze in his eyes.
“Anything for my family,” Stone said, and I knew he meant it.
I glanced around the table, taking it all in. A year ago, I never would’ve imagined this. Never would’ve imagined sitting on a private beach in the Virgin Islands, surrounded by the people I loved. Never would’ve imagined being with a man like Stone.
But here I was, and I was happy.
I looked over at Stone again, who was talking to Kenzo about something. He must’ve felt me staring because he turned and looked at me, his eyes soft.
“You good, baby?” he asked.
I nodded, smiling.
“Yeah,” I said. “I’m perfect.”
He leaned over and kissed me, and I felt my heart swell. I loved this man. Loved him more than I ever thought I could love anyone. And I knew, without a doubt, that he loved me too.
This was my life now, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.