“I didn’t plan on coming,” I yelled back. “Coming would be crossing a line. Control yourself. We’re supposed to be acting.”

I wasn’t sure, but I could have sworn he said he hated me.

I polished off the container of risotto and dug through the fridge for more food. When nothing caught my eye, I sighed and took my Coke upstairs. I made a pitstop in the bathroom and found a new toothbrush under the sink. After popping it from the package, I added a thick layer of toothpaste. I brushed, tongue and all to eliminate the lingering garlic. Then I found the packet of Asher’s Tic Tacs in a drawer and crunched down four. I sniff-tested my armpits and borrowed a bit of his deodorant. Body odor and making out were a bad combination. Even if it was fake making out with my brother.

I eyed his body spray and decided there was a fine line between ensuring I didn’t stink and primping for a date—which this wasn’t.

Once I was set, I blew out a breath, staring at my reflection in the mirror. “Okay. Here we go again. Nothing like some kinky fun with my brother to work up a pizza appetite.” I adjusted my junk in my jeans. “You behave down there. Don’t freak Ash out again. I’ll never hear the end of it.”

With my pep talk complete, I followed the harsh voice of Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails toward Asher’s bedroom. He was lying back on his bed with the music blaring, eyes closed, his foot tapping to the beat, and his hands drumming on his abdomen.

Asher used loud music to calm himself when he was stressed out. He’d been doing it for as long as I could remember, so I didn’t interrupt. I slid into his desk chair and kicked my feet onto the bed beside him. The motion jarred his eyes open.

“I’m ready when you are,” I said, raising my voice above the tunes.

He didn’t acknowledge me and closed his eyes again. When “Terrible Lie” ended, he blew out a long breath and sat up, adjusting the music’s volume to a workable level.

“So, I think we need to focus on moving through a scene without hiccups,” he said, studying the comforter on his bed. “No making ick-faces and no sudden awkward pauses. Just act out a fake kinky scene and have it come across as real as possible, beginning to end.” He glanced up, wary eyes connecting with mine.

“Okay. Sounds good.”

“The still photos Lewis wants don’t worry me as much. It’s the trailers and how Lewis said he wanted it to look like we’re … you know.”

“Fucking?”

“Yeah.”

I wiped a hand over my face. “Right. Okay. So that’s what we’re focusing on?”

“I think we should. I need you to help me.”