“You could go back to jail, you know.”
“What?”
She clenched her hands into fists. “If we get caught, if my dad finds out. He could have you sent back to jail.”
“That’s what you’re afraid of?”
“You just got back into my life, you asshole.”
“Brie—”
“No. Stop. You’re my stepbrother. I have a future and so do you. Drop it.”
I crossed my arms. She was so fucking sexy, her whole body tense and pissed off. I could barely keep myself from grabbing her and throwing her against the wall.
But I was so angry, too. Angry at all the shit in my life. Angry at my bullshit career and my fucked-up legs and Cliff’s insane, controlling tactics.
“Fine. If that’s what you want, Brie baby.”
“Stop calling me that. Just, it never happened, okay?”
“It never happened.”
“No kiss. We’re friends.”
“Yeah,” I said. “We’re just friends.”
“And talk to your mom about the charity event.”
“Fine. Anything else?”
Her expression softened. “Nothing. I hope my dad lays off you soon.”
“Me too.”
She looked like she wanted to say something else but shook her head instead. She turned and walked out of the room.
I stood there and watched her go, anger running through my veins. I didn’t totally understand what had just happened, but I knew I had fucked it up.
That seemed to be my thing lately.
Chapter Thirteen: Aubrie
It was so hot in my room. I didn’t remember it being so hot, but apparently my room was an oven. My fan was broken, true, but there should have been some air conditioning on somewhere in the house, right?
But I knew that wasn’t the truth, even as I thought it.
It was what he’d said to me. The look in his eyes. It kept ringing through my head. Your lips, your fucking perfect body, it’s the only thing I want,
he had said. And at the time, the only thing I could think about was my dad sending him to jail, or his career getting destroyed because of the bad press, or even my own position at the lab getting compromised.
I sighed, sliding out of bed, feeling slightly damp from sweat. I pulled on a pair of shorts and slipped out into the hallway, not exactly sure where I was going.
The carpet was soft under my bare feet. I padded down toward the opposite end of the house and was about to head downstairs when I heard the soft sound of piano playing in the music room.
I should have turned away. I should have ignored it. But I knew who was inside there.
And he was right when he said that I wanted him too.
Quietly I walked over to the door, knocked twice, and then pushed it open. Sitting in front of the piano was Lincoln, wearing only navy blue gym shorts. I gaped for a second at the tattoos running along his muscled body and the way his arms moved as he played.
“Going to stare all night?” he said gently.
“No.” I shut the door behind me and leaned up against it.
He didn’t look up. “You can come in. I won’t bite.”
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“Yeah. There’s a lot of that going around in this house.”
I should walk away,
I thought. Instead, I moved farther into the room and sat down next to the piano, my back against the wall. Lincoln didn’t look over at me, just kept his eyes on the keys and kept playing.
“That was weird, earlier,” I said.
“Which part?”
“The interview. Jess was being a real bitch.”
He didn’t respond, just kept playing. I watched him in silence for another minute, staring at his ripped, shirtless body and listening to the soft, gentle music. The contrast between his playing and his chiseled torso was strange, but I couldn’t help but stare anyway. He looked like he was concentrating, though I wasn’t sure if that was on the music or on ignoring me.
“Have you heard anything else from my dad?” I asked him.
“No.”
“Did you talk to Jules?”
“Not yet. Tomorrow.”
I made a face. “Is this how it’s going to be?”
He kept playing. “What do you want, Brie?”
“I don’t know. For you to look at me, maybe.”
He sighed and looked over at me, his eyes piercing into mine. “Better?”
“No, not really.”
He smiled softly. “I didn’t think so.”
“I’m not here to fight with you.”
“Good. I’m not in the mood for that either.”
“Okay. Cool.”
He looked away and kept playing for a minute while inwardly I kicked myself. What the hell was I doing? He clearly didn’t want me around, and could I blame him? There was so much shit going on for him, so much crap keeping him awake at night. He didn’t need me around annoying him as well.