Page 56 of Scandalous Contract
If she said the pollen count was low, and it was perfect jogging weather, I went for a run at the same boardwalk along the beach that she jogged at. I even followed her weather explainer clips online, loving her videos where she explained certain weather phenomena.
I used to think the weather was boring. Now, I looked forward to listening to her go on and on about cloud formations and air pressure breakdowns. I visited the restaurants she posted about online.
I shopped at the stores that she said had the best deals. Tried the recipes she shared online. My life had begun to revolve around Stefanie Adams long before she laid eyes on me, long before my sister and her daughter became roommates this past fall.
Was it love at first sight? I don’t know. Probably. Since that day in that hospital waiting room, I hadn’t been able to get her out of my mind. Now that I’ve touched her, tasted her, fucked her, held her, talked with her for hours, I knew I wouldn’t be able to let her go.
I had to have Stefanie Adams. The end. There was no way around it. She had to be mine. Hell, she was already mine. She just hadn’t accepted it yet. My phone buzzed on the desk. I glanced down.Aubrey.
“What’s up, brat?” I answered, expecting my little sister to ask for some money or ask where Mom was because she couldn’t reach her. That was usually what she called me about these days.
“Is Tatianna back in town?” Aubrey asked.
My brows furrowed. “Tatianna?”
“Bryce’s girlfriend!”
“Don’t let him hear you call her that,” I told her. “And yeah, I think she’s back.”
“Yay! I can’t wait to see her.”
“You don’t even know her. You were like... what, thirteen when she ghosted Bryce?”
“I remember her! She and Bryce used to take me to the fair all the time. And she made me cute little cakes for my birthday. I even stayed at her place for a couple of weekends. And her mom taught me how to punch and where to aim when I fight after she overheard me say there was a kid at school that kept pulling my hair.”
I leaned back in my chair. “I guess you do remember her.” That kid had been her cousin. She’d conveniently left that part out.
“How can I get her number?”
“Ask Bryce if he even wants you to call her first.”
“Bryce doesn’t control who I talk to.”
“Okay, badass. Do what you want. But don’t be surprised if Bryce stops sending you money.”
“Even if he does stop, I’ve still got you.”
I chuckled. “Yeah. Yeah.”
“What’cha doing?” she asked. “Stalking Ms. Stefanie?”
I straightened in my seat. “I hope you’re not saying that in front of your roommate.”
“Relax. India’s at the library working on a group project.”
Good. I sat back again.
“Aren’t you proud of me for not telling Indi it was your rental car in front of her mom’s Airbnb?” she added.
“You should’ve talked her out of coming in the first place. And if you’re trying to blackmail me, it’s not gonna work.”
“I’m just saying... I could’ve snitched.”
“The only person you would’ve hurt is her mom, and I know you don’t want to do that.”
“No. I like Ms. Stefanie. Which is why I hopeyoudon’t hurt her.”
“Have you ever seen me mistreat a woman?” I asked.
