He closes his eyes for a second, like he’s steeling himself, then looks at Dad dead-on. “James, I’ll tell you everything. But I want to say this first — I’ll take the blame. Whatever it looks like, whatever you want to think of me, I did this. I made choices. I won’t let you—” His voice fractures, then hardens. “—I won’t let anyone ruin Brie because of me.”
My father’s face goes quiet in a way I’ve only ever seen when a storm was coming. “You expect me to let you explain after a photo? Dominic—”
“It wasn’t malicious,” he cuts in. “It was a mistake in timing, a stupid moment made worse by a jealous i***t with a camera.” He turns to me like he’s searching for permission and finds instead the raw hunger and shame and defiance all braided together on my face. “Brie wanted me. I didn’t coerce
