Hard Bastard(101)
“Why?”
“He was busy jumping off stuff and doing commercials. And I was busy going to school.”
“Brie is a model student,” I said, nodding.
“Why do you say that?” Jess pressed.
“You should see all the awards she wins.”
“You seem jealous.”
I paused. Shit, I need to be more careful. “No, not at all. She’s just a big nerd, that’s all.”
Brie snorted. “Better a nerd than a meathead.”
“Meathead?” I said, laughing. “Hardly a meathead.”
“Fine. Jock then. Conceited asshole.”
“Conceited? That’s funny, coming from the world’s most perfect person.”
I could see Jess smile slightly and sit back in her chair. I knew it was stupid to be fighting with Brie on camera, but sometimes she pissed me off to no end. She was acting as if I were the one at fault, as if I were the enemy. She didn’t realize that the only person we should be worried about was the one with the cameras.
“Oh, good one. I’m not perfect, but at least I’m not an asshole.”
I grinned, trying to let it blow over. “You wound me, sis.”
She made a face. “Whatever.” She looked over at Jess, visibly composing herself. “Are we almost finished?”
“I have a few more questions.”
“Okay, fine.”
“This one is for you, Aubrie. What’s something about Lincoln that the world may not know?”
She paused. “He loves the Power Rangers.”
I burst out laughing and she grinned at me. All of the tension between us evaporated in an instant, and I grinned at Jess, who just looked confused.
“The Power Rangers? Like, the kid’s show?”
“That’s the one,” I said.
“Explain that.”
“What’s to explain? Some badass teens with cool powers and sick robots fight evil villains. That’s the definition of awesome.”
Aubrie grinned at me. “He’d be the pink ranger.”
“You’d be the robot.”
“I’d rather be the robot, at least he was cool.”
“Hey, don’t knock the pink ranger. She was just as badass as all the others.”
“Is this some kind of inside joke?” Jess cut in.
“Not really. I asked him one time what his favorite TV show was and he said the Power Rangers.”
“This was when we first met,” I said.
“I assume it’s still true?” Aubrie asked.
“Of course. Like I said, they’re the definition of awesome.”
We laughed together and Jess smiled.
“Okay, Aubrie, I might as well ask. What’s your favorite show?”
“Hannah Montana,” I said immediately.
She laughed. “No, not even close.”
“Pete and Pete?”
“Getting there.”
“Are You Afraid of the Dark?”
“What’s with the vintage Nickelodeon shows?”
“That was the peak of TV programming.”
“Well, you’re on the right track.”
“Okay, one last guess.” I gave her a long look. “Rugrats?”
She burst out laughing. “Yes!”
I gave her a triumphant grin. “I knew it.”
“So you both love old children’s shows?” Jess said.
Aubrie shook her head. “No. I mean, it’s not like I watch it anymore. But it’s the one show I can say definitely affected me.”
“Yeah, same here with the Power Rangers.”
“Okay, I get that. We’re almost finished here, so bear with me.”
“Bring it on,” I said, grinning at Aubrie.
“Lincoln, what do you think about your mother’s relationship with Aubrie’s dad?”
“I don’t think about it much, honestly. She seems happy.”
“Care to elaborate?”
“She likes Cliff. She really loves Aubrie.”
“She does?” Aubrie asked.
“Absolutely. You didn’t know that?”
“I mean, we get along. But I didn’t know . . .” she trailed off.
“You’re practically the daughter she never had and always wanted.”
“But I’m nothing like her.”
“Yeah, exactly. She always wanted a smart little nerdy kid to rear.” I paused and grinned at her. “Which is why she was disappointed when she got me.”
“I doubt she’s disappointed. You’re smart too.”
“Not in the way she wanted. Not like you.”
Aubrie looked thoughtful. “I guess now I feel bad that I hadn’t come home sooner.”
“Don’t worry about it. She was probably too busy feeling proud to care about that.”
Brie just nodded and stayed silent.