Page 25 of Mytho Investigations: Side Stories

Bud jabbed his finger at Mason. “This is because of your mytho fucker friend.”

Mason shook his head. “Take your things.”

Bud took a step forward, and so did Vlash. Mason wasn’t a soldier; he wasn’t used to standing up to men like Bud—and men like Bud never knew when to lay down arms. “You don’t bring the fight home. You leave your weapons by the door.”

Bud glared at him. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“It means you’ve been told to collect your belongings and move on, soldier.” There was more than a little magic behind his words. Not enough that Bud couldn’t shake it off, but enough to be a warning.

“And who the fuck do you think you are?”

“The piece of ass who’s waiting for you to take your shit so we can go back to making dinner.” His words were a growl.

Mason put his hand on Vlash’s arm, and he realized that he’d taken another step forward. “Why don’t you check on dinner?”

There was no dinner to check on, but he inclined his head at Mason. “Sure.”

As he turned and walked away, Bud began wheedling.

“Come on, Mase. We’re good together. I’ve been away a lot, but that’ll change. I’ll forget you cheated this time.”

“I’m not cheating because it’s over. For once in your fucking life, listen to me.”

“Listen to him,” Vlash echoed under his breath, not holding back any magic.

CHAPTER 13

Mason shivered, and the hair on his arms stood on end. He was about to brush off the sensation, but Bud’s expression changed. He wouldn’t have said it softened, but there was a moment when the anger dimmed.

He honestly believed Bud didn’t care about the breakup, but maybe he hadn’t been able to voice it. He was unable to voice many things until he was so annoyed about them he snapped. Another reason it was better they were over.

“What did you say?” Bud asked.

That was a sentence he never expected to hear from Bud’s lips.

He stared at his ex for several seconds before realizing there was magic in the air. He’d sensed it at the wedding. That little vibration that tickled his skin and was so easy to become lost in. This time, it wasn’t directed at him but at Bud.

Vlash had used his magic.

Fuck. He exhaled. One problem at a time, and right now, he needed to get rid of Bud before this became an argument they both regretted. Well, he’d regret it. Bud would blame him. And this time, there’d be no makeup sex and promises that things would change. After five years together, the only thing that had changed was him as he chipped away at himself to fit into the mold Bud expected him to fill.

“I said, I’m not cheating. It’s over. I’m done. I’m done with the arguments. And the separation.” Though over the last year, he’d been grateful Bud wasn’t around all the time. When he was home, it was a rush of emotions, and he’d become addicted to the rollercoaster highs before the lows of the argument. The rush of the makeup sex and the loss of him leaving, and he couldn’t do it anymore. It wasn’t what he wanted. It wasn’t what he deserved. “I’m done with listening to your anti-mytho rants and the way you criticize my friends. And it’s my fault for letting this go on so long because I wanted you to be the one, but you’re not. If you were, we wouldn’t exist in only two states, fighting or fucking, and even then, it has to be your way. I thought I had to give in and be someone else to make you happy. But I want to be happy, and I’m not happy with you.”

For the last month, though, he had been. And whether it was rebound sex, or something else, he didn’t care because he was having fun and re-finding himself.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were unhappy sooner?”

“Because you don’t listen. You brush it off. Because there’s always something else that’s more important. Was I convenient for you to come home to?”

Why had Bud stayed with him and proposed when it was clear that Mason wasn’t what he wanted?

Bud stared at him. This was usually where Bud kissed him and they’d end up in bed, and for a while, Mason would believe he was loved and listened to. But the opposite was true.

“I thought we were having fun. Everyone fights. It’s part of a relationship.”

“No, it’s not.” And it wasn’t the relationship he wanted. He wanted something safe and boring. He wanted to come home and put on track pants and watch TV without someone poking him in the gut and telling him he should’ve stopped at the gym first.

“I thought this was just another fight and that when you saw me, you’d want me back.” Bud actually seemed hurt. “I didn’t think you’d move on so quickly.”