"Yes well, you didn't grow up around my mother." Luke responded dryly. "Trust me, I can tell when crying is being used for evil, as you put it." That was a bit of an exaggeration, of course, but Luke really had seen his mom put on crocodile tears before. He was actually a little jealous that guys didn't have that option.
He hugged her a little tighter, but ignored the comment about Lexie. That was a conversation he definitely didn't want to have. Still... "Hey, wait a minute. I used to be 'one of those guys who stays inside all the time.' It's not impossible to get girls that way Jo. Different girls like different things, right? Sure, Jacen's nerdy and awkward and all, but you really think that nerdy, awkward girls don't exist too?" He could tell that he was walking on thin ice here - any time he disagreed with a girl he was - but he pushed on and said it anyway. "Maybe he just wants you to let him be himself."