Free Based: A Stepbrother Romance (Extreme Sports Alphas) by B. B. Hamel Page A

with.”
    “Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have an opinion.”
    I clenched my jaw, getting annoyed. It was bad enough that he was forcing me into the film, or reality show or documentary or whatever the fuck he was calling it, but I didn’t want to give him any help in shaping the damn thing. As far as I was concerned, it was his project, and I wanted as little to do with it as possible.
    “So far it’s just a bunch of shots of me grunting and sweating and some interviews about my life. Can’t imagine anyone will find it interesting.”
    Cliff laughed. “Yeah. You’re probably right.”
    “So why keep doing this shit?”
    “Trust in me and Jess. We know what we’re doing.”
    “You asked for my opinion, and my opinion is that this whole thing is a waste of time.”
    He smiled. “Okay. Noted.”
    “That all you wanted?”
    “Have you been seeing much of Aubrie?”
    I paused, taken off guard. I hadn’t expected him to ask me about her.
    “Not really. We live in the same house, so as much as you’d expect.”
    “That’s good. She seems okay?”
    “I don’t know, ask her.”
    “You know kids her age,” he said, shaking his head. “She doesn’t want to talk much to her dad.”
    Probably because you’re an asshole, I thought. Out loud, I said, “She’s not exactly opening up to me, either.”
    “I want you to do me a favor, Lincoln.”
    “More favors?”
    He laughed. “Just a small one. Don’t get close with Aubrie.”
    I narrowed my eyes. “What?”
    “I know you guys are stepsiblings, but do me a favor and keep your distance from her.”
    “Why the fuck are you saying this to me?”
    He sighed. “Please, you’re a smart person. Don’t take this personally.”
    “How am I supposed to not take that personally?”
    “Look,” he said, taking off his sunglasses. “Aubrie has a lot going on. I didn’t know she was coming home, or else I would have made other arrangements for you.” He paused and locked eyes with me. “You have a certain reputation. You can’t deny that. I know you’re a decent kid, but it’s the truth.”
    “And you don’t want me to taint your perfect angel?”
    “Basically, yes.”
    “Asshole.”
    “I know. It’s hard not to take personally. But appearances and reputations matter, regardless of how true they are. I know you’re not a bad guy, but the world doesn’t. Aubrie has an incredibly bright future ahead of her, but I’m worried being associated with someone of your reputation might damage her chances of landing her dream job.”
    “Jesus, Cliff. This is like a shitty movie. This is the plot of Dirty Dancing .”
    He laughed. “Except you two are related.”
    “Yeah, which makes it weirder.”
    I realized that my fists were clenched, and I wanted to punch his smug face until he bled.
    “I get it. I’m sure you think I’m being a huge asshole. But regardless of what I know about you and who you really are, how people see you is more important than anything else. I don’t want to jeopardize Aubrie’s future because she’s associated with Based Carter. Even if Lincoln Carter is a good guy.”
    I nodded, my hands gripping the chair, my whole body tense with rage. The piece of shit had the audacity to show up out of the blue and to ask me to stay away from his perfect little daughter, as if I were some piece of fucking trash. And yet he was perfectly fine working with me and raking in the cash together.
    Fucking hypocrite. Any regrets I was feeling over telling Brie about her dad blackmailing me into the film were completely dissolving.
    “Whatever you say, Cliff,” I managed to say through clenched teeth.
    “Thanks, Lincoln. I’m not saying you guys can’t be friendly. Or even friends. Just keep it away from the cameras and the press. Keep it private.”
    “I hear you. We done?”
    “We’re done. I hope you’re not going to let his affect our professional relationship.”
    I struggled to my feet as the range of responses played through my