Pucked And Tasted By My Bully Alpha Stepbrother

Sharing His Apartment

CASTIA

"Kai, you're finally here." His father spoke gesturing him to come closer while I was desperately hoping for the group to open up and swallow me whole right at that moment.

"This is Valerie and her daughter, Castia. The one I told you about." He introduced us proudly and I swallowed, unable to meet his gaze.

"It's so good to see you Kai." My mother proceeded to hug him but he didn't look too interested about it. "I've heard so much about you from your father."

"Star player, popular, heart stopper." She teased, causing them both to laugh. I wish I could share in their humor but sadly, nothing about this meeting is funny to say the least.

"Castia, come and say Hi." My mother urged me, nudging me closer and I mumbled a low and incoherent Hi.

This cannot be happening right now.

"Good to see you, again." He said and my eyes widened in shock as I am forced to stare at him. What is he trying to do? Was he trying to get me in trouble?

"Again?" My mother asked bewildered, her eyes going back and forth from me to Kai. "Have you two met each other before? Are you friends perhaps?"

My throat suddenly went dry at those questions. What if Kai answers wrongly and exposes my secret? What will I do then? I'm honestly not sure my heart can take any more of this right now.

"We obviously attend the same school so I've seen her around." He muttered a reply and I forced a smile so that my mother doesn't suspect how anxious I have become.

"I'm glad to hear that." She patted his shoulder affectionately. "Let's move on to dinner shall we?" She asked, gesturing towards the table filled with food.

He rounded the table to sit next to his father while I reluctantly lowered myself on the chair next to my mother. Our seats directly facing each other.

"Your father told me what you like so I tried to do my best." My mother started as she dished out for him. "I really hope that you'll like it."

He nodded once and drew the plate closer to himself. She did the same for me but if anything, I was more scared than hungry at the moment.

"Oh I almost forgot. Here you go, Castia." His father handed the rose that I didn't take earlier over to me and I grabbed it with shaky hands before placing it on the table, beside me.

"T-Thank you."

"I'm really glad that you two know each other." His father started as we ate. "At least we can find a common ground before the wedding takes place."

"I agree." My mother chimed in. "Castia doesn't really have any friends. She keeps to herself most of the time so having a brother like you in the future can be a good influence."

"Mom please, not now." I whispered in a low voice as I bit down on my lower lip. Why does she have to say that right now?

It's already embarrassing that I'm seated here having dinner with Kai and she's only adding to it.

"What?" She shrieked in defense. "I'm saying the truth. You don't really invite anyone over. The only friends you have in your life are books."

"You'd be surprised." Kai said from the other side of the table as he chewed on his food slowly. Our eyes met briefly and I quickly looked away.

"Excuse me?" My mother inquired.

"I'm just saying that Castia might have friends that you don't know about." He spoke with a serious face. "She is quite popular if I must say so myself."

My heart skipped a beat at those words but I tried to remain calm as I fisted a ball of my dress from under the table to curb my uneasiness.

"She is?" My mother was intrigued. She has pretty much never heard the word popular in any sentence that involves me at all.

"Of course." He replied and picked up his glass of wine to take a sip. The whole table fell silent that I could hear the non-existent siren bells ring louder.

"Why is everyone so serious?" He chuckled, breaking the ice that enveloped the table. "All I'm saying is that she's well known at school by everyone for her intelligence."

"She's a smart ass geek with big brains so everyone knows who she is. It's kinda hard to miss." He added, his eyes intentionally staring at mine as he spoke.

He was doing this on purpose to rile me up so that I make a mess of myself. This is why you don't have a crush on a bully. He's just pretty faced and the only time he's decent is on my screen when he's paying for my services.

"Maybe you can give Kai a lesson or two one of these days to keep his grades up Castia." His father jokes and they all burst out laughing except for the two of us.

"I'll consider it, Mr. Hayes." I said not to sound disrespectful.

"That's wonderful." He chuckled. "Anyway, we organized this dinner to inform you both that we'll be having the engagement party in three weeks and the marriage ceremony in less than three months."

"What?" We both blurted out at the same time.

"Yes." His father confirmed proudly as he reached out for my mother's hands to squeeze affectionately. "We honestly wanted to use this period to foster a close relationship between both families since together is going to be for a very long time."

"We want you both to get along and decided that now would be a great time before the wedding." My mother chimed in with a smile.

"That will not be possible." I spoke up first. "I have school, tutoring lessons and lectures." I listed them, trying to remember more as I spoke.

"More importantly, you promised that you would get me a small apartment closer to school so that I can access lectures easier so I'm sorry but none of this will be possible with my tight schedule." I complained bitterly even though I know that I don't need any of that.

The small apartment was just supposed to be a test run to gear myself for college in the nearest future. Besides, I had wanted privacy to carry out my business as well.

I had honestly wanted to scrap it but seeing as everyone was trying to shove this relationship down my throat then I think it's best that I find a way out of it sooner.

"You see, about that," My mother started, glancing at Kai's father. "Should I go ahead and give her the good news?"

"Of course!" He nodded, giving her permission.

My brows knitted in confusion. "Go ahead and tell me what news?"

"I know how tight your school schedule has been since it's your final year so after giving it some thought, Dominic and I thought that it'd be best if you share Kai's apartment with him."

The color drains from my face in an instant. What is the universe trying to do? This cannot be happening! What the actual f**k is going on?

"W-What?"

"It's better for everyone and we can save cost. Besides, it's spacious, close to school and has everything you need. That way, you both can find sometime to bond and get used to each other before the wedding. It's like killing two birds with one stone. What do you think?"