Page 34 of These Jagged Edges

"I know what you're doing," I hiss at her in the kitchen as I put Joe's mac and cheese among the other dishes piling up on the island in my kitchen.

"I have no idea what you’re talking about." She batts her eyes innocently at me before taking a quick look over my shoulder. "What's the date? I forgot, Evs."

"Lou." I grind my molars.

"I honestly forgot. What's the date?"

"March 20th, my birthday you fucking know that!" I growl at her knowing damn good and well she didn’t forget the damned date.

"Sugar, today's your birthday?"

I inwardly groan and give Lou a death stare before turning to Mercy.

"Yes."

"Why didn't you say something at dinner last night?" Mercy asks from his position in the doorway.

"Because she," Lou points a red-tipped finger at me, "hates her birthday and never celebrates it." She throws her long hair over her shoulder and pins me with a look. "We celebrate everyone else's birthday in this family except for yours."

I gently squeeze her arm. "It's not that big of a deal."

"Yes, it is!"

"Why can’t you let this go?" I groan. The woman is like a damned dog with a bone.

"Because you’re my family Evie, and families celebrate those we love, but you won't let us because of some half-schemed shit you've made yourself believe," she looks at me intently," you keep letting him fucking win! Every time you refuse to celebrate your birthday or refuse to live your life," her palm smacks the counter, "He. Fucking. Wins!"

I don't flinch back at her aggression, but I can'thelp the tears that fall. She doesn’t get it. They have already done more for me than I can ever repay.

"That's enough?—"

I hold my hand up, silencing whoever spoke. "That's not it." I wipe my face and stare into her teary amber eyes. "For a long time, I hated my birthday because all it symbolized was another year I didn't escape him, and that sick fucklovedmy birthday, Lou." My voice breaks. Memories of my past birthdays threaten to swim to the surface. I take a second to gather myself before continuing, "Then I had the boys, and my birthday symbolized a year I spent loving them, being with them. Being free of him.”

Lou looks down, refusing to meet my eye.

"We don't celebrate my birthday because no one ever has, and you've all already done so much for me."

“Evie Taylor, you damn fool," Joe's voice fills the kitchen, "that's what family does! Family doesn't keep a tally of who's done what for whom. We give when and what we can for as long as we need to, but most importantly, wealwayscelebrate one another."

Lou looks at me regretfully and opens her mouth, but a deep voice fills the kitchen making my heart sag with relief.

"Get the fuck out!" Maddox doesn’t ask, he commands, leaving no room for argument.

Lou plants her hands on her hips. "Hell no."

"Those tears on her face are on you, so I'm not asking you; I'm telling you. Get the fuck out." His voice is low and lethal.

Joe looks at the imposing man for a long second before nodding her head and dragging my head strong best friend by the arm out of the kitchen.

"Sugar—"

"You too," he tells his brother sharply.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. A hand fists my shirt, pulling me back into a hard chest before arms wrap around me. Maddox's heart pounds in rhythm with mine as he holds me.

"Hey, Pretty Girl," he whispers into the shell of my ear.

"Hey, yourself, Big Guy," I whisper back.

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