Page 95 of Addicted

I burst out laughing. “Oh my God, Aurora!”

“I’m serious!” she said, laughing too. “And he’s so into me. I got that nigga hooked.”

I shook my head, still laughing. “You’re crazy.”

“Crazy in love,” Aurora said, then paused. “Well, not love. Not yet. But he’s definitely feeling me.”

“Good,” I said. “You deserve a good man.”

Aurora looked at me, her expression softening. “So do you, babe.”

I didn’t know what to say to that.

Was Stone a good man?

He was a drug kingpin. A killer. Someone who’d kidnapped me and held me captive.

But he was also someone who took care of me and Ish. Someone who made me feel safe. Someone who looked at me like I was the most important thing in his world. So... maybe? I wasn’t sure.

“Yeah,” I said finally. “Maybe.”

Aurora squeezed my hand, and we rode the rest of the way in comfortable silence.

***

The Grove was packed. People were everywhere, shopping, eating, taking pictures by the fountain.

Javion found parking, and Troy walked with us while Javion stayed with the SUV.

We headed to one of the outdoor restaurants with patio seating. The hostess seated us at a table near the edge of the patio, and Troy took a seat at a nearby table where he could keep an eye on us.

Aurora and I ordered mojitos and started looking at the menu.

“I’m getting the shrimp pasta,” Aurora said. “What about you?”

“The salmon salad,” I said.

When the waiter came back, we ordered our food and settled in. The sun was shining, the weather was perfect, and I felt... happy. Actually happy.

“So,” Aurora said, sipping her mojito. “How’s life at the estate? You adjusting okay?”

I nodded. “Yeah. It’s nice. Ish is doing good at his new school. Stone’s been... good.”

Aurora raised an eyebrow. “Good how?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. He’s just... changing. Like, he’s still possessive and crazy, but he’s also sweet sometimes. He takes care of me. Makes sure I have everything I need.”

“And the dick?” Aurora asked, grinning.

I felt my face heat up. “Still amazing.”

Aurora laughed. “Girl, I’m happy for you. For real.”

“Thanks, babe.”

We kept talking, laughing, catching up on everything. It felt so normal. So good. Like I was just a regular girl having lunch with her best friend. Not someone living with a drug kingpin. Not someone who’d been kidnapped and held captive.

But then everything went to shit.