The morning dragged like it was trying to punish me before lunch even started.
I stayed locked in my room, back against the door, phone gripped so tight my knuckles were white. Every minute felt like an hour. Down the hall I could hear Jay moving around in her room — door opening, water running, soft footsteps. We hadn't spoken out loud since breakfast, but the texts were flying.
**Jay:** Okay. Bathroom fight first. You say I left my makeup shit everywhere again. I hit back with "you never flush the toilet like a pig." Then we escalate fast.
**Me:** Got it. Then I bring up the $200 you "borrowed" from my wallet last month. Make it loud.
**Jay:** Perfect. She'll step in. She always does.
Three dots. Then another message that made my stomach flip.
**Jay:** Remember how she made me taste you after? She literally guided my tongue while you were still twitching. I can still feel her fingers in my hair.
I stared at the screen, blood rushing south so fast it made me dizzy. I typed back before I could stop myself.
**Me:** Jay… we said we were just planning the fight.
**Jay:** We are. But if she makes me get on my knees again today… I don't know if I'll stop at sucking this time. What if she tells me to ride you right there at the table?
My cock throbbed against my sweatpants. I hated how hard that image hit me. I typed with shaking thumbs:
**Me:** Stop. This is supposed to be fake anger. Not… this.
**Jay:** Too late. I'm already wet thinking about it. Are you hard right now, Alex? Be honest.
I didn't answer. I couldn't. Because yes. Fuck yes.
I tossed the phone on the bed and paced. This was supposed to be a game. A stupid, risky game to see how far Elena would take it. But the texts were turning it into something else. Something real. Something that made the guilt chew at my ribs like acid.
A soft knock on my door made me freeze.
"Alex? Sweetheart?" Elena's voice — calm, warm, terrifying. "I'm just passing by. Need anything?"
Before I could answer, the door opened two inches. She didn't come in. Just enough to see me standing there like an idiot, phone screen still glowing with Jay's last message.
She smiled that gentle, knowing smile. "Everything okay? You look flushed."
Her fingers brushed my shoulder as she "reached for the light switch" that didn't need switching. Just the lightest touch. Skin on skin for half a second. Electricity shot straight down my spine. I swear I stopped breathing.
"Fine," I choked out. "Just… texting a friend."
"Mmm." Her eyes flicked to my phone for the tiniest moment. "Good. Family bonding starts soon. I want everyone relaxed and honest at the table." She let her hand fall away, but the burn stayed on my shoulder like a brand. "See you in a bit, baby."
The door clicked shut. I slid down the wall until I was sitting on the floor, heart trying to punch through my ribs.
She knew. She had to know. The way she said "honest" felt like a warning wrapped in silk.
I picked up the phone again. Jay had sent three more messages while Elena was at the door.
**Jay:** She just walked past my room too. Touched my lower back. I almost moaned out loud.
**Jay:** This is insane. I'm scared but I can't stop.
**Jay:** Flashback hit me hard just now. Remember the first time?
Yeah. I remembered.
Three weeks ago. Jay had been pissed at me for something dumb — I don't even recall what — and in revenge she cut tiny holes in every pair of my underwear. I found them, stormed into her room yelling. Elena walked in right in the middle of it.
Instead of grounding us, Elena had gone very still. That scary-calm voice: "If you two want to act like children, I'll treat you like children. Jay, apologize properly."
She made Jay get on her knees right there on the carpet. Made her pull my pants down. Made her look up at me while she said, "I'm sorry, big brother. Let me make it better." Elena stood behind Jay the whole time, one hand in her hair, guiding her slowly, whispering things like "Deeper, sweetheart. Show him how sorry you are." And when I came, Elena held Jay's head in place and murmured, "Swallow every drop. That's how family fixes things."
Afterward Elena had kissed Jay on the forehead like she'd done something good, then looked at me and said, "See? No more fighting."
I'd jerked off to that memory every single night since. And hated myself for it.
Another text from Jay pulled me back.
**Jay:** I keep tasting you in my mouth when I think about it. Elena's voice in my ear saying "good girl." I'm fucked up, Alex. We both are.
**Me:** We can still call it off. Say we made up early. Blame it on hormones or whatever.
**Jay:** Do you want to call it off?
I didn't answer. Because the honest answer was no. I wanted Elena to lock that dining room door. I wanted to see Jay's face when she was forced to admit how wet she was. I wanted —
The sound of Elena's voice floated down the hallway. She was on the phone in her office, door cracked open. I crept closer without thinking.
"…yes, honey, the kids are getting along perfectly," she was saying in that sweet wife voice she used for Dad. "No fighting at all. In fact, I'm making your favorite pasta for lunch so we can all sit down like a real family. They've been so well-behaved while you're gone."
A laugh. Light and loving. "I'll send you pictures. Everything's under control here. Love you."
The call ended.
I backed away fast, chest hollow. Dad thought we were fine. Dad trusted her. Trusted us. And here we were, texting about sucking and riding and punishments while Elena smiled and lied through her teeth.
The guilt almost made me type "abort" to Jay.
Almost.
My phone buzzed one last time.
**Jay:** Lunch in one hour. I'm shaking. See you at the table, big brother.
I looked at the clock. 11:00 a.m.
Elena's voice rang out from downstairs, bright and cheerful like nothing was wrong:
"Kids! Lunch will be ready in one hour. I've prepared something very special in case anyone can't behave themselves today."
The way she said "special" made my blood run hot and cold at the same time.
I stared at Jay's last text until the screen went dark.
We weren't calling it off.
And deep down… we both knew it.
——