Bullied By My Alpha Stepbrother

Jason DavenportCcontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

I let out a victorious yelp as I fixed that last nail in the shed. It’d taken nearly a week to round everything up. I couldn’t count how I’d dismantled everything and started all over. And finally I was through. I stood to the side not believing I’d done it all on my own. Bill stood by my side, congratulating me, patting my back and cheering me on.

“Good job, Jason,” He smiled. “She’s beautiful.”

I beamed, looking down at my callused palms. I’d done this all alone. For the first time in my life I’d achieved something without help from anyone.

I quickly swiped the tears that were beginning to form away and dug my hand into my back pocket. I’d managed to scrap up a hundred dollars in total. It still wasn’t enough to get a cot but I was proud of myself. I would keep working. I’d work until I could afford to get the baby a good present.

I carefully cleaned up the chicken coop and reintroduced the animals into the new shed. Quickly, so I could run up to the store. The tips I got from there were almost three times my salary.

And I scrambled up the hill and toward the fence, I saw the sleek, black car I had seen the other day.

I frowned.

Was I being watched?

Wanting to avoid any trouble, I pulled my sun hat even lower and walked quickly in the direction of the store.

“Jason.” Dad’s voice stopped me dead in my tracks.

I turned, dazed. “Dad?!”

Squinting to make sure it was him, I watched as he gave me a sad smile. When I saw Ashley move to stand at his side, my eyes widened in surprise.

“Dad!” I yelled, running toward him and enveloping him in a bear hug.

He held me fast, not minding that I smelled terrible.

I sobbed openly, realising how much I truly missed him. I thought he never wanted to see my face again. I thought he hated me. But he was here. And he was smiling. Everything was okay.

Jason Davenport

Dad had driven to a small restaurant nearby, and as I sat eating, I realized how hungry I was. I’d been living on fruits and potatoes and it wasn’t much.

Dad watched me eat without a word. Occasionally he would say something to Ashley I couldn’t quite make out and they would share a sad smile.

After I was done eating, I told dad everything that had happened right from the first day, right up to today. As I recounted my experience, his face betrayed no emotion.

To my surprise, he smiled.

“I’m proud of you, Jason. I don’t know how to explain or say everything I want to, but I’m proud of you.”

“We both are,” Ashley added timidly. She hadn’t said a lot since they got here and I guessed she was still walking on eggshells around me. Guilt poked me in the chest but I ignored it.

“Thanks Dad,” I whispered, placing my hand on his.

We all sat in silence for a while.

“I want you to come back home, Jason,” Dad said.

I paused, staring at him to see if he was serious.

He smiled at me and continued. “I’ve been watching you for two weeks. I’ve seen you struggle, cry, work hard and still stand your ground. And I are how hard you’re trying to make up for everything and become a better person. And that, is the kind of son I’d be honoured to have.”

“Wow,” I breathed. I wasn’t sure what to say.

“I’m glad you see me that way, dad. And that’s what I’ve been striving for. For you, and everyone else to see that I mean every word when I say I’m sorry. And I’m glad that you do now.”

He beamed, his eyes glazing over.

I took a deep breath.

“So I’m sorry, but I can’t. I can’t come back home. Not yet.”

“What?” His face fell. “Jason-”

“No, dad. I mean it.”

And I did.

“I wanna work. Hard. Make enough money so that Amelia could see that I care enough. That I care enough to work to provide for my child. Even if it hurts, even if I’m tired.”

Dad’s features relaxed. “You don’t have to prove anything to me, Jason.”

I gave a small smile. “I know. But I want to. You deserve that son who you can be proud of. The son who’s not a criminal. I wanna be a better person. I wanna work for what I have and get what I need. I want to grow, dad.”

“And yeah it’s extremely hard, and sometimes I want to give up and run back home. But that’s not how you and mom trained me; to be a coward. I want to prove it to you and to myself. Let me. Please,” I begged.

Dad let out the first real laugh I’d heard from him in years. Turning to Ashley he said, “That’s my boy, Ash. That’s my boy.”

Ashley timidly outstretched her arm to touch mine. “I know you don’t particularly like me and that I’m not your mom, nor will I ever be, and I may not have any right to say this, but I’m proud of you, Jace. I’m so proud of you,” She smiled and gave my arm a small squeeze.

It was after a few moments that I realized that her calling me ‘Jace’ didn’t tick me off this time.

How could I change so much in weeks? I didn’t know the answer to that. But I liked this new Jason and I knew I wanted him to stay.

I just needed to work extra hard so I could prove myself and really earn the forgiveness of those I’d wronged so much.