Page 56 of These Jagged Edges

"Sorry. What?"

Joe gives me a knowing look. "I knew I should have knocked on that damn door the other day."

I would say I'm surprised, but this is Joe, so nothing surprises me. Honestly, I’m more surprised it took her this long to mention it. This was out of character for her.

"Are you sure about this?"

"I think she needs this, Joe.”

Joe gives me a hard look as she strums her fingers on top of her desk. "Fine, but you get to deal with Maddox when he blows a damn fuse over this. I'm too old to deal with that boy and his temper tantrums."

"Done." I wring my hands together in my lap. I knew it was going to upset him, but there was something about Allison that made me want to help her. So, when she walked in earlierand asked for a job application in front of Maggie and Joe, I knew she had grit, and I respected that.

"Listen, Evie, I know you want to help her but?—"

"That was me at one point too, Joe, and you helped me." A soft look comes over Joe's face. "I know she's caused a lot of hurt, but she lost her daughter too, and when I look at her, I see someone trying, and that's got to count for something."

A weighted silence fills the air, making me shift in my seat as Joe ponders what I just said.

"Only because we need the extra help, but I’m telling you right now, if she hurts my family any more than she already has she's done."

I visibly relax. "Got it."

As I walk out, all three Wilder men are seated at the breakfast counter staring at Allison in the corner booth. Once Joe calls Allison back, they all get up.

"Guys, sit down."

"Sugar, what's she doing here?" Mercy wonders in utter confusion.

"She filled out an application and Joe's going to offer her a job."

"Evie, why the hell would Aunt Joe offer her a job?" Maddox says hard-pressed as he looks across the counter at me, daring me to tell him it isn't because of me that Joe offered her a job.

Squaring my shoulders, I meet his eye. "Because I asked her too."

All Wilder men start complaining at the same time, and I lose my temper.

"You know what, screw y’all!" I shout.

Without another word, I turn on my heel and push my way through the kitchen needing some fresh air. Pushing the back door open, I sink to the ground and take a deep breath. I only manage to get one more breath in when suddenly the door’s thrown open so hard that it bounces off the building before slamming closed. I don't have to look upto know who it is.

"Evie, stand up."

"No."

His heavy commanding steps sound closer. "Stand. Up."

"I need just one damned second alone. Go back in."

"Too fucking bad." Hands gently cup my arms as he pulls me to stand. Bracing myself for confrontation, I open my eyes to find him relaxed as he looks at me with a gentle gaze.

"I should spank your ass raw." His low tone makes me clench my thighs together.

Maddox swallows as he looks over me at the building before looking down at me. "But I know you just can't fucking help yourself. It's who you are." Maddox laughs as he pushes his glasses up to rest on top of his head. "This is all your fault. You just had to bring all that damn sunshine and life back into mine, didn't you?"

"Maddox—"

"I’m trying, Evie," he says, his voice strained and low. "I want to forgive her, I do. But every time I see her, it all comes rushing back—the anger, the pain. She chose drugs over our daughter, walked away, and left that precious baby behind like she didn’t matter..." His voice cracks, and I can see the storm inside him—the push and pull between the fury that consumes him and the desperate need to find peace.

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