Read Rock Hard: A Stepbrother Romance (Extreme Sports Alphas) Online
Authors: B. B. Hamel
Rock Hard: A Stepbrother Romance (Extreme Sports Alphas) (33 page)
“But, about your recovery?”
I stopped eating and looked at her. “What’s with all the questions?”
“I’m curious, I guess.”
“Well, don’t be. I’m fine.”
She looked surprised, and I instantly regretted the harsh tone. I knew she was just trying to engage with me, maybe even show a little concern in her own way, but I hated pity. I hated pity more than anything, which was why the wheelchair was so terrible. And the last person I wanted any pity from was Aubrie.
Before I could apologize, maybe cover my shitty reaction by talking about the PT, my mom made her typical, perfectly-timed entrance.
“Good morning, children,” she practically sang as she took a yogurt from the refrigerator and leaned up against the counter.
“Good morning, Jules.”
I nodded to her. “Mother.”
“And what are you two doing today?”
“The usual,” I said before Aubrie could chime in. “Exercising my crippled legs while some dudes stick a camera in my face.”
Mom smiled uncertainly, and I felt bad. I knew she didn’t get sarcasm and I should probably lay off.
What the hell is with me this morning?
I thought to myself. It was probably just the pain rearing its ugly head.
“Well, that’s nice, Lincoln,” she said.
Aubrie gave me a look. “He’s pretty cranky this morning,” she said.
I laughed. “Cranky? I’m practically chipper.”
“When are the cameras arriving?” Mom asked, cutting off what was bound to be an incredibly witty retort from Aubrie.
I looked at her. “About forty minutes or so.”
“Better get on my face.”
Aubrie laughed and I grinned. Mom wasn’t kidding one bit, but she gave us a sheepish smile anyway.
“By the way,” Mom continued, “about that charity thing.”
I glanced at Aubrie, assuming she knew what was going on.
“Yeah, about that,” Aubrie said.
“I have a task for you in mind, but I need to clear up a few details first. Do you mind just hanging around?”
I raised an eyebrow. Aubrie was helping my mother with her hundreds of different charity projects? That could be interesting.
“Okay, sure. Whatever you need.”
“Thanks so much, dear.”
“By the way, where’s Dad?”
Mom paused, which was odd. I had been wondering the same thing, but I knew better than to ask.
“Your father is in L.A. working on a new script.”
“Oh, okay. When’s he getting back home?”
“Soon. Very soon, I think.”
Aubrie paused and I shrugged at her. “I haven’t heard from him, so don’t look at me.”
She frowned but didn’t say anything.
“Well, okay, have a good morning.” And then Mom was gone, back up to her room to probably do another workout.
I looked at Aubrie. “Did she seem a little slower than usual?”
Aubrie smiled, focusing back in on me. “No, no more than usual.”
“I could have sworn I saw her hamster wheel spinning twice as fast.”
She laughed. “Oh, don’t be so mean to your mother.”
I held up my hands. “I’m never mean. Just speaking the truth.”
She laughed again and we lapsed into silence, finishing our cereal. Finally, Aubrie pushed back from the island and stood up, putting her bowl in the sink.
“Okay. I have some stuff to do. Good luck with therapy.”
“Sounds good, Brie baby.”
She rolled her eyes and was gone. I watched her walk out of the room, my eyes glued to her perfect, round ass, barely concealed by her thin cotton shorts.
Fucking Aubrie, back in my life. Maybe, if all things went well, I’d recover faster than expected, and my mom would keep her busy. Maybe we wouldn’t run into each other too much this summer.
Maybe I wouldn’t have to spend the next three months covering my hard-ons every time she bent over to pick something up.