Page 5 of Dead Serious with Benefits
“Not that you’d know for most of it,” Micah shot back, and my eyes widened.
Jace didn’t flinch, though Moira’s mouth dropped open and she spun around. I grabbed her arm without thinking, shaking my head when she went to open her mouth. The blow had been low and vicious; however, Jace hadn’t let it show how much it may have hurt him. Considering he had been...upset to find out he had a son he knew nothing about, the comment must have stung deeply, but I had to respect that he hadn’t flinched or lost his temper.
“And I’m here now,” Jace said in an even tone that wasn’t normal. Yes, he had been hurt by the barb. “And if you think anyone in this family is going to take your side right now, go and ask them. Mason’s at the bar, you can start there.”
“Right,” Micah said sullenly, realizing his attempt to fight Jace was backfiring on him. “Because he won’t just take your side.”
Jace smirked. “And when the hell have youeverheard of your uncle willingly taking my side?”
“He will about this.”
“Because he wants to back me up, or because you know he’ll say you were wrong?”
Micah’s glower was all the answer anyone would need as he finally pulled his eyes away from his father, gave an indignant huff, and gathered his things. Dom sat watching the two of them with no expression, but I could see the amusement glinting in his eyes. I didn’t know what he found so funny, but he and Mason often found something funny where I would never think of looking.
“Fine,” Micah huffed and stomped off with Jace hot on his heels.
When they were gone, Moira sighed, shaking her head. “I don’t know what to do with him anymore.”
“Jace or Micah?” I asked, smiling to show her I was joking.
Her lips twitched. “Both of them some days, but Micah. He’s been getting so...mean lately. And it feels like everything has to be a fight with him. And well, you saw it yourself, he’s even willing to pick those fights with Jace...and did I mention the meanness?”
“You did,” I said with a shrug. “I think it was Matilda who said that raising teenagers wasn’t for the weak.”
“Teenagers are just smarter, stronger toddlers,” Dom grunted as he pushed up from the table. “Just as emotional, just as sensitive, and lacking in empathy until they get it drilled into them. He’s just being a normal teenager.”
“I don’t mind the fighting and arguing, I’ve had him correcting me for ages,” Moira said with a roll of her eyes. “It’s the meanness that bothers me. That was cruel of him to say.”
“Who said what cruel?” Mason’s voice rumbled from behind, and I turned to see him standing there with a frown, which deepened when it was explained to him what had happened.
“I think some of the genetics you share with me got passed to him,” Mason said with a wrinkle of his nose. “Remember howmuch of an asshole I used to be when I thought I was witty, but it was just mean?”
“Remember how much of an asshole you used to be?” I asked, cocking my head. “Did something change in the past twenty-four hours?”
“Why is it that when you find your sense of humor, it’s at my expense?” Mason wondered.
“It’s your charming personality, it draws out the best in people,” Moira said dryly. “And yes, I do remember what a little prick you could be when you thought you were being funny. This isn’t the same thing.”
“No, he just has your and Jace’s need to be right all the time, and both of y’all need to win,” Mason said with a shrug. “It’s a different motivation, but the same thing in the end. He’s going too far.”
“That’s what I already said,” Moira huffed, giving him a pointed look.
Mason’s lips twitched. “Are you wanting me to give advice here? Listen to you and shut the fuck up? Agree with you?”
Moira glared at him for a moment before letting out a huff. “How much shit will I get if I admit I don’t know what I want?”
His lips gave another twitch, and I braced for the inevitable smart comment that would irritate Moira into a fit. Mason was that sort of person. He enjoyed digging, and the more likely he was to get a reaction, the more likely he was to poke and prod.
“I’ll be nice and go with no shit this time,” he said, though it seemed to require some effort. “Just this once.”
Moira snorted, but I could see her shoulders easing. “I know he’s getting older, and that comes with a whole new batch of challenges, but I just...this meanness is hard for me to wrap my head around.”
“Well,” Mason said, his eyes drifting to where we last saw Jace and Micah. “No offense, Moira, but maybe this is better left to Jace to handle.”
“Why?”
“Because if anyone understands what it’s like to have something mean and nasty inside that’s hard to keep under wraps, it’s him.”
