Raging Hard(90)

“It was a wedding!” she exclaimed. “Of course I was trying to get drunk. And it was definitely not the first time.”

“How many times before that?” Jess asked.

I could barely hold back my excitement. Hard-ass Jess was playing it up perfectly.

“I don’t know,” Aubrie said, frustrated. “A few times with friends. Not a lot or anything, but I was a typical kid.”

“Sounds like a load of crap to me,” I said, rolling my eyes gamely.

Someone snickered and I gave a look to Aubrie. I watched as she worked her jaw, fury rolling through her. I wondered for a second what kind of comeback she was cooking up; probably something incredibly hurtful but still witty, her typical modus operandi. I had to hand it to Brie, under normal circumstances she was a force to be reckoned with.

Fortunately, getting interviewed reality-TV style wasn’t a normal circumstance.

“Okay, let’s move on,” Jess broke in, diffusing the awkward silence. “Lincoln, same question. First impressions of Aubrie.”

I glanced at Brie and watched as she sat back, visibly composing herself and giving me an “I’m going to murder you later” stare.

“Honestly, she seemed really down to earth,” I started. Brie looked a little surprised at that. “I mean, she grew up with a pretty famous dad, but that didn’t seem to affect her.”

“That’s really nice of you, Lincoln,” Aubrie said softly, clearly surprised.

I grinned at her. “But I also thought you were a little boring. You know, a really good girl. Smart, obviously, but didn’t have much experience outside of the classroom.”

Her jaw dropped and she quickly gathered herself. “Just because I wasn’t covered in tattoos at eighteen doesn’t mean I was boring.”

“No, that’s true, but—”

“And plus,” she cut me off, “not everyone can be as exciting as ‘Based’ Carter. I’ve read some pretty wild things about you in the last year.”

I raised an eyebrow at her. “Been following my career?”

“Hard not to.”

“And I guess you disapprove.”

“I’m not judging. Just stating a fact.”

“Okay guys—” Jess tried to cut in, but Aubrie held up her hand. I was practically giddy with excitement at how well it was going.

I wasn’t sure why I was pushing her so hard. Frankly, I was probably being a huge asshole. But I had been cooped up in the house for so long, working my fucking ass off trying to get back in shape, and Brie was the perfect target. She got so flustered so easily.

The fact that she looked cock-stiffening cute when she chewed her lower lip in anger was just a bonus.

“No, hold on.” Brie turned herself toward me, looking incredibly frustrated and worked up, and way too fucking sexy. “You’re my stepbrother, so people ask me about you. I have to answer questions all the time about the crap people read about you. And you know what? I defend you, even though I barely know you. Even though you haven’t called or texted or emailed in three years.”

The room was dead silent as she finished her little speech, and I was stunned.

“You don’t have to defend me,” I said softly.

“I know I don’t,” she spat back.

There was another short pause. I never knew she wanted to hear from me, especially after the way she had turned me down that night. Although it wasn’t the only reason, getting far away from Brie was a big part of why I moved to Europe and drowned myself in adrenaline and fame. I couldn’t let myself dwell on her too much, or else I’d get stuck thinking about the stepsister I wanted more than anything.

And it was wrong, how badly I wanted to kiss her, even in front of all the cameras.

“I guess there’s some anger there,” Jess said. “Why haven’t you messaged her, Lincoln?”

I took a second to think. “I don’t have a good reason. I guess I was distracted with my own shit. And besides, it wasn’t like she was trying to hunt me down, either.”

“Anything you want to say to that?” Jess asked Aubrie.

“No, nothing. It’s just typical of him to pass the blame off on someone else.”

“Oh, that’s interesting,” I said. “First you barely know me, and now you know me well enough to call me selfish?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“It’s what you said.”

She paused and stared at me, and she suddenly looked calmer than she had this whole time. After a beat, she unclipped her mic and dropped it onto the floor.

“I’m done with this. Good luck with the documentary, Lincoln. I hope it really works out for you.”