Chapter 4
After the dance night, something changed in the house. No one was talking about it, but everyone knew. Jax's hands were no longer "accidental." They were intentional. And no one said a word.
Kai was one of the people who felt this change the most. Because he was staying silent too.
At breakfast the next morning, Jax sat next to Elena. His hand was under the table, on Elena's thigh. Kai saw it. Lily saw it. Mia hadn't noticed anything yet.
"Let's go shopping today," Jax said. "All of us together."
Elena smiled. "Okay."
Jax's hand moved higher on Elena's thigh. Elena's breath caught for a moment. But her smile didn't fade.
Kai clenched his fist. Then opened it. What was he supposed to do?
At the shopping mall, Jax was generous again. He bought Elena two dresses. He bought Lily three bags. He bought Mia a bracelet. He bought Kai a pair of shoes.
"Don't you want to try them on?" Jax said, handing the dresses to Elena.
Elena went into the fitting room. Jax pulled the curtain slightly open. "How does it look?"
Elena was looking at herself in the mirror. The dress left her back exposed. The straps of her lace bra were visible. "It looks good," she said.
Jax stepped inside. The curtain closed.
Kai waited outside. He was gripping the shoebox tightly.
A few minutes later, Jax came out. Elena's face was flushed. They had bought the dress.
It was Lily's turn. She went into the fitting room. She was trying on tight leggings. Jax pulled the curtain open.
"Let me see from behind," he said.
Lily turned. The leggings hugged her hips perfectly. Jax leaned down and adjusted the waistband. But his hands stayed on Lily's hips. He squeezed.
"It looks good," he said. "We'll take it."
Lily smiled. "Thank you."
Kai saw all of this. He put the shoebox on the floor. His hands were empty. In his pocket was the wallet Jax had bought him. On his wrist was the watch Jax had bought him. The shoes Jax had bought him weren't on his feet yet. But they would be.
When it was Mia's turn, Kai couldn't go inside. He waited outside. A few minutes later, Jax came out. Mia came out too. Her face was pink. She was smiling.
"Jax bought me a necklace," Mia said, showing the new silver necklace around her neck.
Kai said, "It looks nice."
Jax patted Kai's shoulder. "Your turn. Try on the shoes."
Kai went into the fitting room. He put on the shoes. They fit perfectly. He looked at himself in the mirror. New shoes. New watch. New wallet. New jacket.
Jax pulled the curtain open. "How do they look?"
Kai said, "Good."
Jax stepped inside. He stood next to Kai. Both of them were reflected in the mirror. Jax was huge. Kai looked small next to him.
"Look," Jax said, pointing at the mirror. "How do we look together?"
Kai didn't know what to say.
Jax smiled. "We look good. We're good together."
Kai's throat tightened.
When they returned home that evening, Jax said, "Let's do sauna. I booked a luxury hotel."
They went to the hotel. The sauna was hot. Everyone was sitting with towels.
Jax sat next to Elena. He put his hand on her back and started massaging. His hands moved from her shoulders down to her waist, then to her hips. His fingers slipped under the towel. Elena's eyes closed. Her lips parted.
Kai was sitting across from them. Watching.
Jax called Lily over. She sat down. Jax massaged her back. His hands slid from her waist to her hips. Lily's breathing quickened. But she said, "Thank you."
Mia came last. Jax pulled her onto his lap. He massaged her small back. His fingers moved over her delicate hips.
Kai was sweating. Not from the heat. From anger. From shame. From helplessness.
But he stayed silent.
That night when they returned home, Kai went to his room. He opened his computer. The new graphics card made the games run smoothly. But he didn't feel like playing.
There was a knock on the door. Lily entered.
"Brother, can we talk?" she said.
Kai said, "Talk."
Lily sat on the bed. "What do you think about Jax?"
Kai said, "What should I think?"
Lily said, "I know. I see everything. But… he gives us so much. Mom is happy. I'm happy. Mia is happy. You're happy too, right?"
Kai didn't answer.
Lily stood up. She came to Kai's side. She hugged him from behind. She pressed her breasts against his back. "I love you, brother," she said. "But Jax… Jax is different. He gives us everything."
Kai turned around. He looked at Lily. "And what about me? What do I give?"
Lily smiled. "You give yourself, brother. Just like us."
That night Kai slept with Lily. But in his mind there was only Jax. Jax's hands. Jax's smile. Jax's words: "We're good together."
After he came, Lily got up from his side. "Good night, brother," she said. She left.
Kai was left alone in his bed.
End of Chapter 4