Deceiving My Bully Stepbrother

(Johnnie)

I trudged my way back to the house awkwardly, my eyes staying glued to the floor as salt water clung to my skin, making me all sticky.

Why did Caspian do that? The moment kept replaying in my mind over and over again. How he shoved his shirt over my head, making my eyes focus on his hard chest as the image of a small tattooed butterfly was now etched into my mind.. Yeah, he had a lot of other tattoos, but that one drew me in the most. Something about it seemed so damn familiar, I just couldn't put my finger on it.

After Caspian put his shirt on me, he turned and stomped towards the house..was he mad now? I didn't ask for his shirt..

I glanced up just as he slipped into the house, his broad muscular back making my stomach twist as I chewed on the inside of my lip nervously.

"You sure you're okay Jo?" Alder suddenly asked before lifting his arm and rubbing the back of his neck. He couldn't even look me in the eyes..well..I don't blame him, I wasn't looking him in the eyes either.

"Yeah, I'm just going to go change and unpack my stuff." I explained, making Alder look at me as he nodded his head softly.

I slowly bent over, picking up my purse I left here before going to the beach and held it in my hand.

"You're coming back out, right? I think Heather said something about having lunch by the pool." Alder explained.

"Uh, yeah sure..I will be out soon." I stated and quickly turned on my heel before racing upstairs.

s**t s**t shit..I am officially freaking out..I mean..I know that this moment would come, obviously..but I didn't think so soon. How was I going to go out there in a bikini?! I knew I should've packed a backup swimsuit..maybe my mom has one I can borrow. To access the complete chapters for free, visit Job nib.com. Walking through the house, I hastily made my way past the modern sitting area where beige and light blue colored furniture filled the room. I headed towards the large staircase and made my way up.

Pictures of our families throughout the years sat on the walls as one in particular caught my attention. It was of me and Caspian standing next to eachother at the beach as he towered above me. I wore a red and white striped bathing suit and he had black swim trunks on. We were both smiling widely at the camera with an ice cream cone in our hands.

What you didn't know from looking at that picture was that right after I dropped my ice cream cone in the sand. Tears filled my eyes as I just stared down at it, while the sound of Ben's laughter filled the air.

"Here Johnnie, you can have mine." Caspian said with a smile..we were ten at the time and I swear for the rest of the summer, that single moment kept playing through my mind. That's when I had convinced myself that he loved me too... Yeah..I was naive okay?!

I continued up the steps and took a left before seeing my room come into view. There were five bedrooms upstairs in total and the master was downstairs along with another guest room.

It's weird to think my mom and Dave will be staying in one room together this year..

Suddenly I heard my phone vibrate in my bag and quickly fished it out, realizing I had a whole bunch of texts from Anna. From Anna: How is operation neuter the prick going? Oh god..seriously Anna?

From Anna: I know you have to be getting these texts..What, Dave couldn't spring for the wifi to save on costs for the caviar?

From Anna: I swear if you wore a hoodie I am going to kill you..

From Anna: Hellooooo?! Dying here!! I caught up on all of the episodes of Love Island so I need some drama!

From Anna: Remember..you are a hot ass b***h and you better own it..kill Caspian with kindness like we talked about..have you been practicing your lip bite?

I couldn't even respond to that..not right now..I have totally failed our mission so far and Anna really might kill me.

I continued walking forward as I headed down the hall and reached for the door handle when I saw something out of the corner of my eye.

That's when the door next to me opened up, surprising me completely.

That used to be Caspian's room but he moved to the other end of the hall a few years back..so usually I had this side to myself while the guys stayed over there.

"W..what are you doing in there?" I blurted, almost forgetting who I was talking to for a moment.

"Putting my stuff away..why..is that a problem Turner? Did you want my brother to take this room instead?" He asked cooly, making my mouth fall open as I felt thrown off by his insinuation..what is up with him consistently suggesting that I am after his brother? "Uhh..no..I'm just used to having this side to myself." I mumbled, trying to keep my eyes from wandering down to his bare chest..it was damn hard I might add.

"Well sorry to disappoint you..the princess will have to share this trip." He said with a snarky tone.

Princess..since when am I a freaking princess?

I furrowed my brow as what Anna said began to infiltrate my mind...okay, time to go forward with the plan..and why did I agree to this again?

"I don't mind sharing." I suddenly blurted before forcing a smile and batting my eyelashes at him. Okay..the eyelashes might've been too much..

I kid you not..I have never seen Capsian so shocked in my life. He looked like he was having a stroke or something. That's when a boldness I never knew existed rose up as I reached down to the hem of the shirt he gave me and pulled it over my head. Then I swiftly shoved it against his chest, seeing his eyes drifting down to look at it as I smiled once again.

"Thanks for the shirt." I quipped and turned on my heel before walking into my room and shutting the door.

As soon as I got in, I slapped my hand over my mouth..trying not to scream as I let out a rush of air. Did I seriously just do that?!!

And he didn't even say anything rude..maybe this will actually work. Anna might've been on to something.

She had told me she thinks the problem might be that Caspian didn't see me as a woman..he just saw me as that little girl he could bully and treat like crap..but if he sees me as something more, then I can turn the tables on him..

I quickly pulled my phone out and dialed Anna.

"Thank god!! What the hell Jo! I was about to fly the hell out there myself." She exclaimed, making me roll my eyes as I began taking off my wet leggings.

"Anna..I did it..I acted confident." I whispered, just in case Caspain was lingering around.

"Oh my god.. what did you do? Did you wear a bikini? Did you do that bend-over thing I taught you and flip your hair back?" She rushed out, making me laugh. "No..I gave his shirt back." I said..making Anna go quiet for a moment.

"Wait..you..gave his shirt back.." She asked, sounding bored as I confirmed what I said.

"Hold on..why did you have his shirt?! Wait..you two didn't join the mile-high club did you?!" She squealed making my eyes practically bulge out of my head. "What?! No! Oh my God Anna..seriously.." I gasped, feeling my cheeks burning red as I took off my shirt next.

"Okay..so tell me what happened..start from the beginning." Anna continued and I did exactly what she asked.

Starting with Ben waking me up..which she promptly interrupted me, asking what he was wearing and if I happened to have a picture.

Then I talked about Milo being here..making her yell some profanities which I rather not repeat. But once I told her how Milo was kind of flirting with me and that Caspian got mad..she began to laugh maniacally..it was kind of scary. "This is it..oh my god..how much more perfect can this be? Milo is the key to everything..he is the guy you flirt with to make Caspian jealous!" She announced before squealing and clapping her hands together happily.

"You know my theory on things..and this is going to prove it.." She chirped, making me sigh and roll my eyes. Yeah..her "theory"..she seems to think Caspian is secretly in love with me and that's why he bullies me..she has been saying that s**t for years but I just can't believe it's true..no way..how can you treat someone you love that way? I just can't see it..even if he did..that stuff he said left scars..

"Listen..get your ass in a bikini and go down there ready to take charge. Whatever he says...just brush it off and laugh like I showed you..or flirt with Milo as a punishment..that should teach him." She said with a mischievous tone to her voice, making me swallow hard as I walked towards my suitcase.

"Okay..I'm ready.."