Brie just nodded and stayed silent.
“What about Aubrie’s dad, Lincoln?” Jess asked.
“He’s fine. We get along.” I wasn’t interested in elaborating. Jess knew that I was lying, but that was okay with me.
“That’s it? He’s fine, end of story?”
“Like I said, I haven’t been around much.”
“And yet he’s done a lot for you lately.”
I glared at Jess. “Yes, he has.”
“And yet he’s just ‘fine’?”
I paused for a second to imagine all the different ways I wanted to smash the cameras.
“Cliff has done a lot for me lately. But I wouldn’t say we really know each other.”
“Why would he help you if you barely know each other?”
“I suspect my mom had something to do with it. Or maybe he can see the real good citizen inside me, hiding behind all these tattoos.”
Aubrie laughed softly but it didn’t seem to reach her eyes.
“What do you think, Aubrie?”
She looked at Jess. “About my dad helping Lincoln? I think he’s just doing what anybody would do. We all know Lincoln isn’t a bad guy, just jumped from a building he wasn’t supposed to and got unlucky on the landing.”
“He broke the law,” Jess pressed.
“Yeah, he broke the law”—Aubrie paused—“but breaking the law doesn’t make him a bad person.”
“Okay. I think we’re set.”
“Really?” Aubrie asked.
I unclipped my mic and stood up. Once the light indicated that the camera was off, I turned on Jess.
“What was that shit?” I asked her.
“Just trying to get something out of you.”
“By ambushing me?”
“You handled it well.”
“Fuck handling it well. You know the real answers to those questions.”
“Lincoln,” Aubrie said, standing.
I looked at her and then back at Jess, aware that the crew was staring.
“Keep pushing, Jess. I’ll go back to jail before I let you control me.”
She smiled innocently. “Wasn’t my intention, Based.”
I clenched my jaw and walked away. Aubrie said something to the crew, but I didn’t hear her, way too pissed off to think clearly. I kicked open the door and walked across the house, not stopping until I was in the game room surrounded by the pinball machines.
Aubrie wasn’t far behind me.
“What was that?” she asked.
I shook my head. “Nothing. Just pissed about all this.”
“I’m sorry, Lincoln.”
I looked at her for a second and realized she was serious. “Why are you sorry?”
“I know my dad is forcing you into this. I guess Jess is using that to play off you. That’s probably why she wants me to be around, as an antagonist or something.”
I shook my head. “I know her game. I shouldn’t let it get to me.”
She perked up and smiled. “Despite that, I think it went pretty well.”
I laughed. “Oh yeah. We only bickered on camera once.”
“That’s what siblings do.”
“We’re not siblings,” I said flatly.
“You called me sis.”
“Just to piss you off.”
She looked away. “It worked.”
“What do you want me to say, Brie baby?”
“I don’t know. I’m just trying to make you feel better.”
“Thanks. But the only thing that would fix this is if my legs magically fucking worked again. And I didn’t have prison hanging over my head.”
“You don’t have to be an asshole about it.”
I clenched my jaw. “I know. But apparently I can’t help it.”
Her face remained blank. “Okay. I hope you feel better.” She turned to leave.
I sighed. “Aubrie, wait.”
She started for the door. I limped after her, ignoring the pain in my joints, and grabbed her arm. It was the first time I had touched her since the kiss, and immediately I felt myself stiffen. Her skin was soft, and her lips parted slightly as she looked back at me.
“I shouldn’t take it out on you.”
“No, you shouldn’t.”
“It’s just a lot of shit.”
“I know.”
“And I can’t stop thinking about the other night.”
“Lincoln . . .”
“I know. It’s wrong. But fuck, I can’t get that kiss out of my head. Your lips, your fucking perfect body, it’s the only thing I want.”
“We can’t.”
I moved closer to her, pulling her body against mine. She didn’t resist, but she turned her head away.
“Fuck can’t. I know you want this too.”
Suddenly she put her hands on my chest and pushed me away. I stumbled a step back. Her expression was fierce.