Page 9 of Baked

HAZE

“Nowthatlooks much better.”I tapped the top of the freshly baked bread with the tip of my finger, the hot bread burning me slightly. “Yes,” I shouted, the blunt in my mouth nearly falling as I did so. “Shit!” I took an eager hit, placing the nearly gone joint down on the small green ashtray. “Oh, look at that! Just the right amount of butter brushed along the top gave it the perfect golden crisp. You see that, Kush?” My head turned to see the oversized black cat struggling to reach the ashtray. “Kush, no.” I shook my head, pushing the ashtray away. “You can’t have the blunt!” The obese cat meowed at me, his ears falling in frustration. “Don’t you take that tone with me.”

“Scolding the cat again?” Her voice entered the room as she stepped into the kitchen. My heart nearly jumped at the sight of her, standing there dressed in a black and floral cami dress way too short and tight to be worn outside the walls of our apartment. I had to force my eyes away, pretending the sight of her breasts bulging from the dress didn’t excite me. She tossed her black hair, styled perfectly, over her bare shoulder.

“Indi,” I whispered.

Three years had passed since our night together. We spent the first one avoiding each other, pretending everything wasnormal. Eventually, she came around, convinced nothing had happened between us, eventually returning to how things were. Only this time, we were closer. After she graduated college, we got an apartment together to save money. She thought it was convenient that we worked in the same city now, this new arrangement making her life easier, when in reality I made it happen. She thought I gave her space, done as she asked, but truthfully, I had shadowed her every move since that night. While she spent years avoiding me, I spent them lining everything up perfectly, curating my life to hers to ensure we wound up together. Even if it was only as roommates. For now.

“Who’s a pretty kitty?” she cooed, squishing the poor cat’s face. “Such a pretty boy!” She opened the kitchen drawer, pulling out a small bag of weed.

“Hey!” I tried to stop her, but she only smiled, sprinkling a small pinch over the cat as it purred and began to roll around in the vibrant green residue as if it were just ordinary catnip.

Fucking cat.

“You know you’re the reason he’s so fucking overweight. You spoil him.” I snatched the bag from her hand. “Next time, use your own weed.”

Indi giggled, petting the cat as she rolled around. “Oh, but Haze has the better weed. Isn’t that right, Kushy Kush?” The cat purred, stretching his stubby legs out as she bent over, scratching his stomach.

My eyes took advantage of the moment, sneaking a peek to see her wearing a thin black lace thong. Her ass looked scrumptious, knowing how much she prided herself on her image and her body. Indi worked in town for spare cash, but her main gig was modeling for subscribers. She was really good at it, but it was a struggle to be around. She would do shoots and recordings in her room, thinking I had no idea. She had a large following on social media, and always acted like that’s where hermoney came from, but I wasn’t stupid. I had been following her real career from the beginning, watching her lives when I could, silently viewing all her content subscribed under a fake name. A profile that was currently one of her highest contributors, and she had no idea. I used an old Halloween mask she’d forgotten about and hid my face. I’d send her messages and pics at times, much like her other followers. But thanks to my high bidding, I got more one-on-one time with her. Oh, the things she did, the photos she posted—it was unbelievable. Her body was something she took pride in, as she should, and only made me want her more.

Indi sat up, turning to face me as I pretended to be more focused on the bread I made. “This smells amazing!” She inhaled, closing her eyes. I bit my lip. “What’s in it? It’s herbal but—” she asked, looking up at me, trying to pinpoint the smell.

“Rosemary. I baked it into the dough.” I removed my apron, shirtless and wearing only a pair of gray sweatpants underneath. I noticed Indi’s eyes dash down south for a brief second.

Oh, you can look all you want, little sis. Fuck, focus Haze.

“Where are you heading to dressed like that?” My eyebrow rose as I crossed my arms. She was too focused on Kush, now high, to notice my gaze.

I stared at her attire, the small dress barely covering her body, hugging and complementing it in all the best ways. The tiny straps and low cut front only emphasized her large and perfect breasts, and the velvet red material beneath the sheer black floral lace matched her lipstick perfectly. Her various tattoos were on full display all throughout her arms, legs, and neck, adding this dangerous look to her beauty. I had to adjust myself, pretending she didn’t make me horny as fuck.

“Carter is picking me up. We’re going out tonight.” Indi grabbed her purse and pulled her phone from it, groaning as she scrolled.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah, just—” She looked at me for a second before forcing a smile. “It’s nothing. You know Carter.”

Fucking Carter.He was Indi’s current boyfriend. Another prick who begged for her attention until she finally gave them attention, only to turn out to be a major douche who only dated her for sex. He treated her like shit, like they always did. I tried to tell her. I wasn’t sure if it was because I was her brother, or our past, but she always ignored me. The topic of her boyfriends eventually became off limits, and if I wanted to keep her here with me, I had to bite my tongue and watch every dick she paraded around, the relationships eventually all failing as I picked up the pieces. I didn’t mind being there for her, I always was, but I hated seeing how much these fuckboys tore her down. None of them deserved her. And Carter had been the worst. He had her wrapped around his tiny dick, convincing her she had all these problems and needed to fix herself to be good enough for him. I’d never seen a man manipulate such a strong and confident woman, making her question everything. The way he made her work so hard to prove her feelings for him, jumping through hoops and always hanging onto his words. It was wrong. And I wanted to put that bitch ass in his place, but I couldn’t. Not unless she wanted me to.

A knock at the door whipped my feelings back as Indi rushed to open it. Her smile dropped immediately as she saw Carter standing there with Mary-Jane, the redhead tugging his gaudy gold chain. I knew seeing them there must’ve upset Indi.

“Indi!” Mary-Jane squealed, pretending nothing happened, while jumping to hug her. “You look amazing! Oh, Carter here was just telling me you guys have plans for tonight!” She flashed a look at Carter, the blonde douche returning the smile. Mary-Jane pulled back and stepped between Indi and him as shemade her way to me. I noticed his eyes following her, eventually meeting mine as his smile dropped.

That’s right, I see you.

“So good to see you too, Mary-Jane,” Indi drawled, looking back at me. I could see the disappointment in her eyes. It only made me happy, knowing my situationship with Mary-Jane bothered her so much. And if Mary-Jane could be relied on for anything, it was ruining Indi’s relationships, which I was game for. “I’ll catch you guys later.”

Carter looked back at me, his face stone cold. “Haze.” God, I fucking hated him.

“Carter.” Indi and him left, closing the door behind.

“Oooo, what have you been up to?” Mary-Jane bobbed her bright red hair, smelling the bread that had finally cooled a bit. “Ew, what is that?”

“Rosemary.”

“Not a fan.” She popped onto the counter, pulling her phone out, noticing Kush now passed out on the floor. “Your cat looks dead.”

I bent down, cradling the overweight cat. He purred, snuggling closer. “Nah, just so high he crashed. Indi gave him a bit of my stash again.”

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