Page 68 of Addicted

I didn’t respond.

Because maybe she was right. Maybe Stone was my man, even if neither of us had said it out loud.

The thought made my stomach flip.

Javion pulled up to an upscale restaurant in Beverly Hills. It was the kind of place with valet parking and a dress code. The kind of place I never would’ve been able to afford before Stone.

Aurora and I walked into the restaurant, and it was instant. I could feel the stares, conversations slowing just enough to take us in as we passed.

The hostess seated us at a table near the window while Troy sat at the bar. We both ordered mimosas and started looking at the menu. Everything was expensive as hell, but I didn’t care. Stone’s money was paying for it.

“Get whatever you want,” I told Aurora. “Don’t even look at the prices.”

Aurora grinned. “Girl, you ain’t gotta tell me twice.”

We ordered appetizers, entrees, desserts—the whole nine. The food was incredible, and for a couple hours, we just enjoyed each other’s company.

We laughed, talked shit, reminisced about high school and all the crazy shit we’d been through together.

It felt normal. It felt like home. And I realized how much I’d missed this. Missed her.

After lunch, we headed to Rodeo Drive.

Aurora’s eyes lit up as we walked down the street, looking at all the high-end stores: Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Dior.

“Where do you want to go first?” I asked.

“Everywhere,” Aurora said, her voice filled with excitement.

So that’s what we did.

We hit up store after store, and I bought Aurora whatever she wanted. Shoes, bags, clothes, jewelry. If she looked at it twice, I bought it.

Javion and Troy followed us from store to store, carrying our shopping bags like personal assistants. Aurora kept whispering to me about how fine they were, and I kept laughing at her thirsty ass.

By the time we were done, we had at least fifteen shopping bags between us.

I didn’t buy a single thing for myself. I didn’t needto. I had more than enough shit at the estate.

But watching Aurora’s face light up every time I handed over cash for something she wanted? That was worth it. It made this whole fucked-up situation feel easier for a little while, because my best friend was happy, and that made me happy.

When we got back to Aurora’s apartment, the sun was starting to set. Javion and Troy helped us carry all the shopping bags upstairs, and Aurora’s living room looked like a department store had exploded.

“Thank you so much, Indie,” Aurora said, pulling me into a tight hug. “This was the best day ever. I love you, bitch.”

“I love you too,” I said, hugging her back. “And I’m sorry again for disappearing on you.”

“It’s okay,” she said, pulling back to look at me. “Just promise me you’ll call me. Like, regularly. I need to know you’re okay.”

“I promise,” I said. “And I’m gonna ask Stone if you can come visit the estate. I want you to see where I’m living.”

“Girl, yes!” Aurora said, her eyes lighting up. “I want to see this mansion you’re talking about. And meet this fine ass kingpin who got you all dickmatized.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “You’re ridiculous.”

“I’m just keeping it real,” she said with a grin.

We hugged one more time, and then I headed back downstairs to the SUV.