Page 74 of Enemies with Benefits (Finding the Right Brother #1)

"Well, I was hoping you'd figure that out on your own. I just wish it didn't take Kayden getting shot for me to get through to you and for you to open your eyes finally."

Jace snorted, glaring up at the building. "It just sucks he didn't break his jaw when he fell. Then they'd have to wire it shut, and I wouldn't have to listen to him."

"You know, I hear how you talk about Kayden, and I’ve wished you would talk about me like that."

"Wishing you got your jaw wired shut?"

"Yeah, but before now, I would have said that you'd say that and mean it. But with him, you don't, you just...you’re you."

He eyed me sadly. “I stopped hating you a while ago. I was just?—"

"Pissed?"

"Confused."

I opened my mouth and closed it because what could I say?

He had every reason to be confused, and it wasn't like I wasn't right there with him, just as lost and just as confused.

It made sense that his confusion would turn into anger; it fit him perfectly.

I hadn't been joking when I'd said he had control issues.

That made complete sense with his history, but it also meant that if he wasn't sure about something, he wobbled back and forth trying to make sense of it.

The more the sense eluded him, the more frustrated he got.

So, of course, he’d lashed out at the person who seemed to be at the core of it.

And I hadn't dealt with it well because, yeah, I liked attention, but that didn't mean I enjoyed being the target of all his problems and anger.

I wasn't to blame for everything, not even our problems rested on my shoulders alone.

"I get it," I said after a minute of thinking, shaking my head. "But that doesn't mean things can keep going like they were."

"I know," he said, shrugging his shoulders and making his shirt move.

I realized it was the same one he'd worn to the club with me, and despite enjoying the sight of the slightly too small shirt move around because of his broad shoulders, I was reminded that, for how tired and worn out I was, he was even worse off.

"But...but I don't want shit just to stop.

And I know what I said, alright? I know what I did, but that. ..can I take it back?"

I chuckled softly. “There's no real taking anything back, Jace. You have to know just as much as me that you can't change things that have happened. The question is, what do we do from here?"

"Well, we can't go back," he agreed. "But, uh...is there a chance to move forward?"

"You can't ask me that."

"Why?"

"Because it's not up to just me."

He rolled his eyes. “Yes, Mason. I know that. I'm asking if there's a chance to move forward for you."

"Is there for you?"

"Don't start answering my questions with questions."

"Why not?"

He growled, and when he reached out, I wondered if he was going to hit me, but instead, he shoved my shoulder. “Quit!"

I caught his hand before he could pull it back, enjoying the surprise on his face. "Yes, okay? I want to move forward."

"I do too," he said, still staring at my hand wrapped around his, slowly dropping them until they were between us. "But we can't...do it like we did before."

"On that, we both agree," I said, pausing as he changed our grip, lacing his fingers through mine and giving a soft, questioning squeeze.

"What...does that mean?” he asked, wrinkling his nose at the question I assumed, though I might have a bit of Cheeto dust on my fingers that he was finally noticing.

"I don't know," I admitted. "Probably shit like talking and listening to each other. Not always jumping down each other's throats. Oh, and we probably shouldn't be so quick to start beating the shit out of each other."

He snorted at that. “You like it rough."

I raised a brow. “I never said the sex needed to change. You want to pin me to a surface and have your way with me so hard that I'm walking funny the next day, then sign me up. But I meant?—"

"I know what you meant," he muttered, his cheeks darkening. Alright, so he was feeling bold enough to kiss me and hold my hand in public, but maybe not ready to risk someone overhearing about him screwing me stupid. "And about the fighting , you're right...but we can still spar, right?"

I laughed. “I don't think we could go without needing to beat the shit out of each other, but.

..in a controlled way. No way we're going to make it without that.

We are who we are, and sometimes, over the next who knows how long, we'll need that outlet.

And if it does that and also...other things, all the better. "

"Oh," he said, staring at me.

"What?"

"You're...that's long-term thinking."

"Hey, short-term is our current problem, but I wouldn't be willing to work on short-term problems if I weren't ready to think long-term eventually."

The shy look returned to his face, and he pulled his hand away, shuffling from one foot to the other. "I guess that's good."

"You guess, huh?"

"Yeah, but it'd be...nice not to have to guess at some point."

"Still need to figure that out, huh?"

"Yeah, sorry."

"Nah, it's not like I don't need to figure my own shit out."

"Yeah, that makes sense."

I cleared my throat as my sister appeared, Micah at her side as they descended the stairs toward us. Jace released my hand, quickly spinning around to face her, trying a smile and...failing miserably.

"Good try," I muttered.

"Shut the fuck up," he grumbled back. "It's weird. Tell me it's weird for you."

"Oh, this is just strange. Weird is going to come when she decides she's going to talk to us about it."

"Fuck. I forgot how long she takes to talk about things. She builds up a whole list to hit you with."

"Mmm, want some advice?"

"Fuck, yes, I was never ready for her."

"You know her well enough to guess what kind of questions she's going to ask, but understand you're never going to be ready for all of them. So prepare for the ones you can, and brace for the rest."

"What are you two whispering about?" Moira asked as she reached us, brow twitching up.

"That's private," Jace told her, and I had to admit, it was a good response.

It also hinted that we were talking about the very subject she would broach soon, which told her he was confident about it enough to mention it around her.

More importantly, it was the last piece of evidence I needed to know he was, in fact, serious about going forward with things between us.

"Mmm," she hummed thoughtfully. "Which one of you two wants to take Micah back to the hotel? He's craving Grandma time now Kayden is okay."

"Going to be okay," Micah corrected, but he was smiling.

The little weirdo was really fond of Kayden, which.

..well, made sense. Moira would never in a trillion years let her attention linger on someone who couldn't attract her son's affections.

Maybe have some fun briefly, but never anything serious.

"We can both take him," Jace offered, and I snorted. He frowned at me. “What?"

I cocked my head at Moira, who shook her head. “You don't have to avoid me. I'm not going to get either of you...yet."

"That's not why," Jace protested. "We should probably shower and change."

"At the same time?" Moira asked innocently.

I was trying to figure out a way to make it backfire, but of course, Micah did it for me. "Are you talking about sex, Mom?"

"Well," Moira began, and I could see her regret.

Micah turned to Jace and me. “Are you having sex?"

Alright, so it blew up in everyone's face.

"We'll take him," I said with a sigh as Moira and Jace both made pained noises. God, if it hadn't involved me, it would have been funny. "Go meet the potential in-laws."

"You shut your mouth," she said with a warning finger. "I'll find you two later."

"We await with bated breath," I said, then looked down at Micah. "Ready to go?"

"Yes," he said, looking irritated that no one would answer his questions, but experienced enough to know that his questions sometimes just went unanswered. "Let's go, bye Mom!"

"Bye, Micah, love you."

"Love you too."

And like mother, like son, they both marched off in separate directions, intent on where they were going. I glanced at Jace, and I could see by his bemused expression as he glanced between them that he was probably thinking something similar.

"So...figuring things out?" I asked, bringing his attention back to me.

"Yeah," he said after a moment, smiling at me. "Figuring things out...together."

"Alright, let's see how much of a mess we can make."

"Maybe after we shower."

I blinked at the dirty joke and then laughed, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and following Micah, who had started whistling a tune that could have come from a video game or music from the 1920s.

"There might be hope for you yet," I told him. And maybe hope for us thrown in there too.