To Seduce My Stepbrother

Not dumb, just different

I’m not dumb, just different. Sitting in front of the mirror in my bathroom, that’s what I tell myself as I apply a new batch of pink dye to my hair.

Is different good? Is it bad? I don’t know but I like the way Calum said it. I finish up soon and the dark roots of my hair are completely pink by the time I wash off the dye my hair.

“Cathy. Calum. Lunch is ready,” Dani screams from downstairs. “Be down immediately.”

I step out of my room and wait by the door for Calum to show up so we can go together. He doesn’t. If he had gone downstairs, I would have known or heard him, all thanks to the not-so-thin walls. He has to pass by my room since it’s closer to the staircase. I start towards Calum’s room. I’ll only tell him lunch is ready and leave. Easy to do.

His door is slightly ajar. I slip in and stand still, trying to adjust my eyes to the darkness. The curtains are drawn, the lights are switched off. I know he’s in the room. Calum doesn’t go out on Saturdays.

A phone vibrates from the table. The screen light illuminates the room and I see a shirtless Calum sprawled on the bed with his arms folded over his face and a pillow under his head. His phone vibrates without interruption. He has a call but he makes no move to pick it.

I wait a few more seconds, then push closer to the bed. He doesn’t stir. “Calum?” I whisper. “Lunch is ready, bro,” I add to tease him. “Are you coming?”

No reply. I exit his room as quietly as I came in. Dani and my dad are already eating when I join them downstairs. They both share a strained glance, then their gazes return to my hair. It’s a dark pink that can be noticed from a mile away.

Dani is the person who speaks to break the awkwardness. “Your hair looks lovely, Cathy.”

Her compliment seems genuine and I return it with a smile. Dad doesn’t look as pleased as she does. I tug on the hem of my skirt to keep busy or stop myself from saying something to wipe off that disappointed expression on Dad’s face.

“I thought we were over this stage,” Dad says.

This stage that started after my mum died. She liked colours. I switch my hair colour to feel closer to her.

“Apparently not,” I reply, scooping some stew into my bowl. “Sorry. It’s not ending anytime soon.”

Dad fists his palm on the table and Dani places a hand over it. “It doesn’t look so horrible.”

“Gee. Thanks, Dad.” I stare at the food on my plate, then at the couple eating. I don’t want to eat with them. I want to eat with my stepbrother. I stand and lift the plate. “Can I take this up with me?” That earns me furrowed brows from Dad and a curious glance from Dani. “I’ll take mine and Calum’s up. Dani, what better way to bond than over food? Food is the way to a man’s heart, right?”

My gaze rests on my stepmother alone. If she says yes, then it’s an automatic yes from my dad. She purses her lips, then her head bobs in a semi-nod. That’s enough for me to jump into action. I rush to the kitchen to get bigger bowls and a tray to carry our lunch. Dad is grumbling on my return to the dining room but I’m too excited at the thought of eating with my stepbrother to pacify him.

What will we talk about this time? My hair? Calum couldn’t have been serious about it being ugly. It’s loud, attention demanding but not ugly.

“Thanks, Dani. You’re the best.” I blow her a kiss and she erupts in a fit of giggles. Dad glows with instant jealousy, his face a faux facade of aloofness. I set the tray down and plant a kiss on his cheek. “You too, Dad. You’re the best.”

Before Dad can reply, I’m already bounding up the stairs. I knock once and enter his room without an invitation. Calum is seated by the study table close to the balcony door. Sadly, he’s wearing a tank top but I can still see his tattoo. He looks up when I come in, then balances the guitar on his leg. I expect him to play. I’ve never heard him play.

“What do you want, Cathy?”

A cloud of tiredness hovers over him, the kind that was present when I came in earlier. I take another step in and he motions for me to stop. There’s no trace of anger on his face so I decide to play it safe.

Something seems to be bothering him. Another small step inside and Calum blatantly ignores me. I shrug it off. According to Rose, Friday’s practice went okay. Rehearsals have gotten intense but fun, so it can’t be school stuff disturbing him. I push the thought aside and take one more tentative step towards the unhappy man. I know he can be nice and I want him to be in a good mood when we eat.

I raise the tray to my chest. “I brought food.”

“Not hungry.”

Covering the gap, I place the tray at his feet and sit with my legs crossed under me. “Too late.”

“Go away, Cathy.”

“Nope.”

The sweet aroma of the stew filters into the air when I open the plate. My mouth waters but I force myself to serve Calum first. Before Dani, I was stuck with Dad’s mediocre cooking so I’m eternally grateful to her for her cooking skills.

Calum looks on helplessly as I heap more white rice to his plate. I let him have the biggest beef in the bowl and he murmurs a sheepish gratitude that elicits a smile from me. Our fingers brush when he accepts the plate from me and a tingle shoots up my arm, spreading down to my toes.

My cheeks are as pink as my hair when I eventually manage to serve myself. I need to get a grip. He’s my brother. My stepbrother.

After his first bite, he says, “Not bad.”

“Your mum is a great cook,” I answer. To that, he winks. “Do you still think I have a beautiful smile?”

“Yeah.”

We continue eating in silence. At intervals, he taps on his laptop and the screen comes alive. I can’t see his screen clearly from my position on the floor but I glimpse a YuuTube channel. I hope to have one when I grow a bigger TicToc fan base. Right now, I’m at six thousand followers.

“What were you working on before I came?”

“Nothing, really.”

“Calum.” His eyes squeeze shut and he lowers his empty plate to the table. My eyes trail his perfect physique hungrily. I’m newly starving but not for the food Dani cooked. I push my plate aside and kneel between his legs. “Will you play the guitar for me? I’ve never heard you play.”

“No.” My hands sneak into his shorts and his eyes jerk open. I dare to move my fingers another inch above his thighs, across his skin, so smooth and soft to my touch. Calum sucks in a breath. “Cathy. Stop.”

“I’ll stop if you say yes.” I lick my lips and his eyes follow the movement. Heart thumping and logic forgotten, I push his legs apart. His blue eyes narrow ever slightly and a flush rises to his cheek. “Calum, will you please play the guitar?”

“Fine. I’ll play.” Calum attempts to yank his shorts from my grip but I only tighten my hold on the material. His face is so close to mine. I’m super tempted to lean in and kiss him. “Now, get off me.”

Fully aware of our position and how easily it can be misconstrued if anyone—our parents stumble inside, I retract my hands. “Sorry.”

“You’re intense,” he mumbles under his breath but I’m almost certain he didn’t mean for me to hear it.

I let out a small laugh. Shame and excitement battle inside me but shame wins. I pick up my forgotten plate and push the food around.

“Sorry,” I mumble again. The food is cold. It has lost its taste, like I lost the boldness that prompted me earlier. “It’s part of the dumb package.”

Calum pries the plate from me and sets it down on the tray. His finger curls under my jaw to tilt my head up. Our eyes collide. My heart slows to a beat. “You’re not dumb, Catherine.” I half-smile. “Stop using that word to describe yourself.”

“Will you play the guitar?”

“I will.”