(Jack’s POV)

“Morning.” I said, walking into the kitchen. Curtis nodded from where he sat at the table in the dining room. “Where’s what’s-her-name?”

“Still sleeping probably.” Curtis said. “I think she went to a party or something last night.”

“What?” I asked. That threw me off. She went up to bed before either of us and I didn’t hear anything (usually I’m the one that hears these things, which is why my sisters hate me).

“Yeah, she came in at about three.” Curtis said, lifting his cup and drinking his coffee. His eyes never left the paper he was reading. I shook my head and turned on the coffee maker. There was a slamming noise from upstairs and I looked to see Evie jumped down them in a pair of boy shorts and a white tank top that left the majority of her stomach revealed.

“Ew, how can you drink that stuff?” She asked, looking at the coffee in Curtis’ cup.

“Easy.” He said, taking a sip. Evie made a face but swooped down and kissed him lightly on the cheek anyways before coming into the kitchen. I turned back to the coffee maker.

“Ew, you too?” Evie asked.

“Bite me, princess.” I said.

“Where?” Evie asked, leaning against the counter next to me. I stared at her, her shirt moving even higher up as she leaned back.

“I didn’t mean literally.” I said, tearing my eyes away from her body and looking at her face. Her hazel eyes sparkled in a mischievous way. I wondered what she was thinking just before she pushed herself away from the counter and opened the fridge, bending over to look inside. Curtis came into the kitchen and put his cup down before looking at her and rolling his eyes.

“Babe, it’s too early to be a flasher.” He said.

“It’s never too early.” Evie said, straightening and turning around. “You’ve told me that.”

“Ok…I’m gonna take a shower before I head off for classes.” I said, walking around them. Neither of them even seemed to notice as they seemed stuck in a staring contest. I walked up the stairs and into my room.

(Evie’s POV)

As soon as I heard the door close I started laughing.

“Oh my god, he so thinks we’re together!” I said.

“I never said he was smart, Evie.” Curtis said. “I gotta get to my own classes so…”

“I’ll be good.” I said.

“Evelyn.” Curtis said. I rolled my eyes as his usage of my full name.

“I will be good, Curtis.” I said. I crossed my fingers behind my back. “Trust me alright?”

“Yeah…ok.” Curtis said.

“I’ll just stick around by the pool.” I said. I still couldn’t believe that there was a nice sized pool in the backyard.

“Ok…just don’t be doing it topless or naked.” Curtis said.

“Spoil sport.” I said. I laughed and hugged him before watching him leave. Then I smirked and went upstairs. I pulled off my little tank top and shorts before pulling on my red string bikini. I then grabbed my brush and a hair tie and walked into the bathroom, knowing full well that Jack was still in the shower.

It was his fault he didn’t lock my door.

I slammed it and smirked as I saw him jump behind the curtain. I crossed my arms and watched him poke his head out.

“What the hell are you doing?” Jack asked.

“I needed the mirror so that I could put my hair into a ponytail nicely.” I said. My smirk changed into a mischievous smile as I noticed his eyes were on my body. The top of my bikini did wonders to accent my boobs. I put my brush and hair tie down before walking across the bathroom to the shower. Jack looked like he had to force his eyes up. “Do you see something that you like?”

“Uh…well…I…um…” Jack said. I didn’t even think as I wrapped my arm around his neck and kissed him. It caught both of us by surprise. This was not exactly how I pictured myself bugging him. I felt wet arms go around my waist and next thing I knew, I was standing in the shower with my back against the cold wall, in a very energetic tongue battle with my step-brother’s housemate…who just happened to be naked. I finally gained control over myself and pulled away from him. I was momentarily speechless as I stared at him with his (so obviously dyed that way) blue-black hair plastered to his forehead. He actually looked kinda hot.

“Well…enjoy the rest of your shower.” I said, slipping out of it, grabbing my stuff and leaving the bathroom. I leaned against my door to catch my breath before I slowly moved away from it and worked on putting my hair up.

Jack said nothing to me as he left. He looked outside where I was sitting in a lounge chair by the pool reading a book, but he didn’t say anything. I watched him leave before I slid my bookmark in place, put the book down, then went and dove into the pool. The cool water was what I needed then. A few minutes later my phone rang and I got out quickly to answer it.

(Jack’s POV)

I rubbed my forehead as I walked into the house. I frowned at the additional shoes at the front but took no real notice. I went into the kitchen and got a beer out of the fridge before sitting down. The back door slid open and a girl in a black bikini with red walked in and, ignoring me, went straight into the kitchen and grabbed some stuff from the fridge before walking back outside. I raised an eyebrow and got up before following her.

Sitting by the pool was Evie and the girl that just came in. In the pool were another girl and a guy. The girls outside of the pool each now had a beer and were watching the other two.

“Ok…what the hell is going on?” I asked.

“Oh…hey Jack.” Evie said. “This is Bianca.” She pointed at the girl next to her. She then pointed at the girl in the pool with black hair. “That’s Katie and the guy is Steve.” The two in the pool came out and the guy walked straight over to Evie and proceeded to kiss her for a couple of seconds before taking the beer from her. “Thief.”

“Underage, babe.” Steve said.

“Oook.” I said.

“Boy, didn’t you know? Our little baby doll here is only seventeen.” Bianca said, putting her arm around Evie. My eyes flew wide open.

“I’ll be eighteen in two months, thank you very much.” Evie said, trying and failing to get the beer back from Steve.

“More like two and a half, princess.” Katie said. I just stared at them. I think they might have forgotten I was here. Evie and Katie started arguing. I felt a hand on my shoulder and jumped. Bianca was standing there.

“You eying up our girl over there?” She asked.

“What?” I asked.

“Buddy boy, she’s taken.” Bianca said. “She’s already in enough trouble as it is so be careful what you think about.”

“Hey, what’s going on out here?” I turned around to see Curtis come in with Jade and Paul, friends of ours.

“Evie’s invited people over.” I said.

“They kind of invited themselves.” Evie said. “Bianca has a terrific memory and she did drop me here yesterday.”

“Uh huh.” Jade said.

“Jade, Paul…this is Evie.” Curtis said. Evie waved a bit. “Evie these are a couple of friends.”

“Really?” Evie asked. I bet her eyes were on Paul. I had my own suspicions about Curtis and Paul but I was never able to prove anything. She shook her head before turning her attention back to her own friends.

(Evie’s POV)

Katie, Bianca and Steve stayed until about four in the afternoon. I told the girls I’d say them the following night (afterall we did work together) before I returned to my brother and his friends. I laid down on the ground next to Curtis’ chair, facing the pool. My hair was over my shoulder and tucked under my chin so that I could get a nice tan on my back. I listened to my brother and his friends talk.

“Anyone else hungry?” Jade asked. I lifted my head and then put my hand in the air.

“Yeah.” Jack said. Paul and Curtis did what I did.

“Ok so what’s to eat?” Jade asked.

“Uh…” Curtis said. I looked at him. “I don’t feel like cooking.”

“Me neither.” Jack said. They both looked at me.

“Don’t look at me.” I said.

“Pizza?” Paul asked. The three of us that shared the house all cheered. Paul went inside to order it. He came back a few minutes later. “Who wants to come with me?”

“I’ll go.” Jack said.

“Me too.” Curtis said.

“Goody, girl talk.” Jade said. I laughed. The guys left and we were quiet for a minute. “So you’re the infamous step-sister.”

“Ah, so you two know.” I said.

“Sweetheart…I think Paul would kill you if you were dating Curtis.” Jade said. I giggled and sat up. “So what do you think of Jack?”

“He’s…ok.” I said. “But the guy that was here…he’s my boyfriend. So I’m strictly off limits.”

“I don’t think that’ll stop him, boo.” Jade said. “You know those Pirates of the Caribbean movies right?” I nodded. “Well Jack’s like Jack Sparrow…”

“Constantly drunk?” I asked.

“No…he’s rarely drunk.” Jade said.

“Oh.” I said.

“They’re similar because both are the kind of guys that know what they want and won’t let anything get in their way so that they can get it.” Jade said. “And I’m thinking JD likes you.”

“JD?” I asked.

“Yeah…Jack Donovan.” Jade said. “Girl you have got to learn this stuff.”

“Alright…tell me about JD while we have the time.” I said. I sat on the chair Curtis was on and spent the time alone with Jade listening to her telling me about my brother’s friend.