Page 168 of Scandalous Contract

I bit the inside of my cheek. He was right. No matter what, this would put her in a weird position, and I understood that. I just hoped she could understand me and how I felt.

“But, Stef,” Ronnie said, quieter this time. “No matter how she takes it, whether she’s mad, confused, shocked, whatever,don’tlet her reaction make you run from this man. You hear me?”

I didn’t know what to say to that. I didn’t know if I could promise that. India’s feelings came before my own.

“Stef, you’ve finally found someone who sees you, who treats you like the goddamn queen you are. Don’t walk away from that because you’re scared of upsetting your daughter.”

I didn’t say anything. Just looked out at the shimmer of the pool and sighed. The thought of losing Julian made my stomach knot. I didn’t want to end things. I couldn’t see myself being happy with anyone else.

But if India looked at me with disappointment, with that betrayed expression I feared... could I really go on loving him while hurting her? Maybe I should wait and tell her later. Maybe I should give it more time. Tell her after the summer. No, after school started back up. After...

A buzzing sound cut through the air.

I sat up, startled. “Was that my phone?”

Ronnie waved a hand toward the grill. “Nah, that’s mine. Some guy I met at poetry night won’t stop blowing me up.”

I was already patting down my wrap, peeking under the towels beside my chair. “Where the hell is my phone? I had it out here earlier.”

Ronnie smirked. “India has it. Said she was recording some birthday messages for you.”

My whole body tensed. “Wait. What?”

“She said she wanted to surprise you with a little video montage or something.” He paused, frowning at my expression. “Why do you look like you just got caught committing a felony?”

“I have pics of Julian in my phone,” I whispered, horror blooming in my chest.

Ronnie gasped, clutching his chest dramatically. “Nudes?Can I see them?”

I slapped his arm. “Shut up! What if she sees them?”

“That... wouldn’t be good,” he agreed, sobering instantly.

We both stood at the same time. I moved faster, nearly tripping over my own damn flip-flops in the scramble. Ronnie was right behind me, laughing as we sprinted toward the house. I reached the patio door first, yanked it open, and muttered, “Heaven, please don’t let my child see a picture of her mama’s boyfriend’s junk in her phone.”

Ronnie wheezed beside me. “Girl, if she sees that man’s dick before you give heranykind of context, your ass is grass.”

I didn’t reply. I rushed into the living room with my heart damn near climbing out of my chest. India was standing there, stiff, pale, holding my phone in her hand. Her eyes were wide and shimmering with unshed tears. I knew that look. I knew that posture. I knew I was caught.

"India," I breathed.

She turned the phone around, her hand trembling. “Is this who I think it is, ma?”

It was a photo of Julian and me, fully clothed, lying on the couch, his lips pressed to my cheek, both of us smiling up at the camera as I took the photo. I took a step forward.

“Sweetie, I can explain.”

Her thumb swiped across the screen. She showed me another photo. It was Julian in my kitchen. Shirtless. Wearing only those damn grey joggers that hugged him just right, stirring something in a pot.

“Can you explain this one too?” she asked, voice trembling. “And this one.”

Another swipe. It was Julian again, sprawled across my bed, bare-chested, this time in those black shorts that hung low on his hips. She went to swipe again, and I lunged forward and snatched the phone out of her hands before she ended up seeing something she shouldn’t. She didn’t move. Just stood there, her face crumbling as a tear slipped down her cheek.

“India, baby...”

“Ma,” she started, and the way her voice cracked made my heart ache. “Why do you have pictures of my roommate’s brother in your phone?”

“India, sweetie...”