Chapter 91

Grace

As I recounted the events of the previous evening to Eason over breakfast, I couldn't help but notice his unusual silence. His lack of reaction struck me as odd, especially given that Jackson had been a close friend for years. I raised an eyebrow, suspicion creeping into my voice.

"Eason, why aren't you saying anything?"

"What did you expect me to say?"

My eyes bulged. "What does that mean?"

"Jackson was your friend, not mine."

I leaned forward, sensing something else in what he was saying.

"Care to share with the class, Eason? He's been around all of our lives."

"I know." Eason's expression darkened, and my chest clenched at the look on his face.

"What aren't you telling me, Eason?"

He set his jaw. "Who do you think told half the school I was gay?"

My eyes widened.

Eason looked at me. "Jackson may have pretended to care in front of you, but he wasn't a great actor."

"Eason--"

"And anyone who cared to think about it could have figured it out."

My jaw clenched. "Are you saying you think I didn't care?"

He gave me a wry smile. "About me or about who you were around?"

My jaw clenched, and I looked back at my plate. "You could have said something."

"Interesting thing to say for someone who doesn't listen."

I gawked at him. "What--"

"You remember what I said about Jackson when you first met? Elementary school?"

I blinked and shook my head. "Not off the top of my head."

"I told you that he was the person that got Cindy in trouble for the Jelly Incident, and she wasn't involved at all."

My lips twitched. I remembered the Jelly Incident and how angry Cindy was for weeks after. Jackson had laughed every time he saw her. If I remember right, she ended up trying to fight him one day. I remembered jumping in to help pull her off.

"Yeah, what about it?"

"You still jumped in to save him from that ass-kicking he deserved."

"Well, I never let him get away with anything against me."

"Yeah... against you." Eason shook his head. "And he knew that. It made getting his goons to torment me a lot easier, didn't it?"

"But I helped then, and he never--"

"Just because he didn't shove me into a locker doesn't mean he didn't instigate it," Eason said and sighed. "He got me kicked off the basketball and the soccer team. I--" He huffed. "I really don't want to talk about it. Let's just say if you're looking for comfort about getting rid of him, it won't come from me."

My jaw trembled as I bit back the words. On the one hand, I wanted to talk about it. I wanted to know what Eason had been going through. I remember the day he stopped playing sports. The scholarship he could have gotten for soccer would have made things easier for him, but he ended up getting one for Speech and Debate, so I never worried about it. The anger surging in me made me feel like I should go find Jackson and give him at least another ten slaps across the face, if not just claw his face off.

At the same time, what right did I have?

I hadn't been there for Eason the way he needed me. He hadn't even felt comfortable enough with telling me what Jackson was doing then. As I looked back on our teenage years, I thought Eason and I were so close. Closer than any other of our peers and their siblings, at least.

It felt like I had just been lying to myself about more things than just Devin.

"I... must have terrible taste in men."

"You do."

"Hey!"

"Any time you choose a man, it's a disaster." Eason shook his head. "You're really better off letting men approach you."

I scowled at him. "What about Devin?"

He cocked an eyebrow at me. "You told me that you talked to him first."

I blinked at him. "I did not."

"You don't remember? Wasn't he the cute business transfer student who was always dressed well and drank his coffee black?"

My eyes widened. I blinked and blinked, trying to recall.

"The one from the library."

My jaw dropped as the scene flashed before my eyes. Oh, Goddess, my face burned with embarrassment. The shame that I had been feeling grew a hundredfold.

I remembered him. I remembered him standing in line. I remembered hitting on him in the library every time I saw him until I learned what year he was in.

"I... completely forgot."

Eason took another bite. "You tend to forget anything that makes you feel worse."

"Way to kick me when I'm down."

"These moments could have saved you a lot of heartache in the long run," Eason said thoughtfully. "For a long time, I figured that's why."

I frowned, looking at him. "Why what?"

"Why you didn't want me around because you know I don't pull punches." Eason finished his food. "And I was okay with it. To be honest, I was kind of tired of fixing your fuck ups and the tantrums you threw when you realized I was right. I shouldn't have let you fall on your face."

His lips twitched. "Though Mom would say you had to eventually."

I winced at the thought of Mom. "That was a woman who pulled no punches."

Eason smiled. "Where do you think I get it from."

"Do you think she knew about the board?"

"From a mile away," Eason said. "If she were still alive, Cecil and Richard probably wouldn't even be here."

He sighed and pushed his hand through his hair. "And I probably wouldn't be on the run from my ex's family."

"Everything... would be different."

The solemnness of the thought settled on us for a moment. It felt too heavy to lift with words but not uncomfortable. It was just the truth. After Mom died, everything started to change. Then, when Dad died, we just... fell apart in our own ways.

"I'm sorry," I said. "For not being there for you."

"Which time?"

"Eason!"

He laughed. "I'm sorry for not sticking around to be your voice of reason."

I winced at that. "You're the little brother. I should be the voice of reason."

He snorted and stood. "Never in a million years, hot head. Maybe when you're mom's age and you've mellowed out a bit."

I snorted at that as he left to go put his plate away. The rift between Eason and I had been big, but I never thought it had been this big. Could we ever be the way we were?

Did I want us to be?

No, I wanted us to be better if that was possible, but that wasn't something I could fix immediately.

I needed to figure out a suitable replacement for Jackson's role in our team. Finding a competent reformulation specialist was no easy task. I hadn't even been looking for one when Jackson had come to apply, and I didn't have a clue about where to start.

"Get that murderous look off your face. You'll scare away applicants," Eason said, coming back and taking his seat. "It'll work out. Even if Daddy Lycan has to recruit another witch for you."

My face burned. "Daddy Lycan?"

He grinned. "He totally gives off Daddy vibes. In more ways than one."

"Are you talking about Charlie?" Margaret asked, sauntering in, freshly dressed for the day. "Is that coffee? Who made it?"

"I did," Eason said.

"Perfect! No offense, Grace, but you make the worst coffee."

"It's not supposed to taste good!"

She scoffed. "It really is supposed to."

She glanced over at me. "What's the matter?"

She came to the table with a plate of food.

"I'm surprised that oaf isn't around," Margaret said. "Though I suppose he wouldn't deign to eat Charles' cooking."

Margaret hummed and started eating. "What a lovely way to start the day!"

I almost laughed. "What are you going to be up to today, Eason?"

"I plan to be a great uncle and wreak havoc with Cecil and Richard," Eason said. "You two have fun with your science stuff."

"What about your company?" I asked.

"My one-man miracle? That's the beautiful thing about having no employees and no supervisors. I can take a few days off when I want."

I chuckled at that. As Margaret and I finished our breakfast, the atmosphere was unusually serene, a welcome change from the recent tensions in the house. Margaret, always perceptive, couldn't help but comment on the newfound tranquility.

"You know, Grace, this has been the most peaceful meal I've had in this house in a long while," she remarked with a contented smile.

I nodded in agreement, grateful for the break from the recent upheaval. However, I couldn't bring myself to tell her about my decision to fire Jackson just yet. I didn't want to sour the moment with that discussion.

Eason took our plates, jeering me about not knowing how to clean to save my life, and Margaret headed towards the door, preparing to face the day's challenges. However, as we stepped outside, we were met with an unexpected sight.

Jackson had pulled up in his car, looking determined and somewhat desperate. His cheek was still bruised from when I slapped him.

"Well, there went the morning," Margaret groused.