Is it déjà vu? Or am I trapped in another weird dream? She looks exactly like she did fifteen years ago, but that’s impossible.
Looking down at his hands, Kaj realized there were no calluses on his palms that were, in fact, too small for an adult.
What the fuck?
“What does that have to do with anything?” Katja blurted like it was all fine, but her demeanor had stiffened.
“He’s a piece of shit,” Kaj deadpanned.
Katja pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed as she walked past Kaj. “Look, it’s been a long day and I’m tired. When you’re ready to talk like an adult and not like a child throwing a tantrum, I’ll be downstairs.”
“Tired? You don’t even work.”
“Watch your tone.”
“Since my dad died, all you do is hang out with your friends, drink, and live off his inheritance like it’s endless.”
Katja turned around, hands on her hips. “Who do you think you’re talking to? I’m your mother. You owe me some respect.”
“You’re not my mother.”
“Your father would be so ashamed of you right now.”
“He would be pissed at you for lettingyourson get away with everything.”
“Stop bringing Jesper into this! You’re just angry and wanna fight, like always.”
“I’m sick of the way you excuse everything he does like he’s some goddamn angel. He’s a drunk driver and a fucking rapist!” Kaj shouted.
Katja screeched. “There’s no way he did the things you say he did!”
“Kaj,”someone called.
“You fucking read everything and still deny it?” Kaj pointed at his laptop screen, heart beating so hard it felt like it would rip his chest open. “Why would I say something like that if it weren’t true? Do you really think I’m that twisted?”
“You’re so desperate for attention you lie, skip classes, shoplift—”
“It was just one time!”
“You’ve been misbehaving since your dad left us. This is just one more of your erratic behaviors.”
“That’s not—”
“You got drunk, had sex, and then felt guilty for cheating on your boyfriend, so you decided to accuse him of the worst. Do you even remember what really happened?”
Bile crept up Kaj’s throat. “I don’t remember everything, but—”
“Kaj.”
“I’ve never said anything about the way you two are touching each other all the time. Thought it was a fraternal thing. But this ends here. You shouldn’t look at each other that way. You’re brothers, for the love of God!” Katja said, gesturing with her hands. “I’ll talk to him, but you also need to stop walking around half-naked when he’s here.”
“You’re blaming me?”
“I’m saying we all need to do our part. Have you told this to anyone else?”
“No.” Kaj frowned at the random question. He had considered telling Trine—the online strangers suggested he should. She was the only adult who truly cared about him. But in the end, he chickened out, not ready to be pitied or scolded for how disgusting he was, or the remote, yet possible, rejection.
“Good. I don’t want people thinking badly of Jesper when this is clearly a misunderstanding. He would never hurt you. He adores you. Too much, apparently. Jeez… I raised him better than this.” She rubbed her temples.
