Page 41 of These Jagged Edges

He's nowhere to be found. I call out his name one more time before heading to his office. Reaching for the handle I pause, hearing sniffling and soft murmuring. The blood drains from my face. Is he okay? Did something happen? Is Maddox hurt? Heart racing, I open his office door and freeze. The smell of alcohol fills my nose as I look at Maddox sitting in his chair.

"Maddox?"

When Maddox hears my words, he tenses, his eyes turn hard and cold as they take me in. "What the fuck do you want?" he snaps, putting me on edge. I instantly begin fisting the hem of my shirt.

"You weren't upfront," I tell him, taking note of the two empty whiskey bottles lying at his feet. How long had he been here like this?

"It's called knocking," he grates out the words before setting a picture of a baby with blonde ringlets on his desk next to a stuffed lion that has seen better days. "Next time, fucking try it," he spits out, his voice full of venom leaving no trace of the person I have grown to know and care for.

It breaks my heart to see him like this. "What do you need Big Guy?"

He runs a hand roughly through his hair. "Leave."

"No." I can’t leave him here like this. No way in hell.

In an explosion of anger, his desk is thrown clear across the room, crashing into the wall. I freeze, shocked at what just happened.

"FUCKING LEAVE!" he roars.

Ignoring the tears streaming down my face, I square my shoulders and hold my head high. "No. You need someone right now. I can’t leave you like this so please stop telling me to.”

Before I can process what's happening, Maddox rushes me, backing me into the door, his big body holding me hostage between him and the door.

When he speaks, his voice is menacing, dripping with a cruelty I’ve never heard before. "Are you stupid? If I tell you one more time to leave me the fuck alone," he leans down in my face making me whimper, “I’ll get my belt, and make you leave.”

“Posey, I will make you listen if you don't start.” Trent traces the side of my face with his belt making me tremble.

I bring my hand up andsmack!The glasses fly from Maddox's face and slide across the floor. His cheek flushes instantly from the slap, my hand burns with pain, but I refuse to let him see even a hint of it.

"Fuck you, Maddox Wilder." I turn and yank the door open stopping. "You will always be a raging storm wreaking havoc leaving behind nothing but devastation." The door barely closes behind me when I hear a loud thud and the sound of glass shattering. I wipe my tears and hold them in until I get home.

I don’t leavethe house for the rest of the day. The whole incident put me back in a place I swore I'd never be again. Lou brings the boys home from school and stays the night. She doesn’t ask me where I’ve been or even mention Maddox's name. Instead, she crawls into bed with me, hugs me, and tells me it’s okay, and I will be okay too. Lou knows what I need most is the comfort of my best friend, so she doesn’t ask me if I want to bust out the windows of the gym. I’m grateful for that. She will reign her war party down on his ass later, no mistaking that.

After a long restless night of tossing and turning, I finally get out of bed, take a long hot shower, and set about getting ready for the day. I keep replaying it all in my mind. The look on his face, his threat. Right now, I hate him for his behavior. Did I fear him? No. Trying to be fearful of him is like trying to hold water in your hands—it slips through your fingers when you grip it. No matter how hard I try, I can't holdonto it.

I know Maddox was hurting yesterday, but that still doesn’t excuse his behavior. My tears won't seem to stop. Why the hell am I even crying in the first place? I keep pondering that question as I brush my teeth and then it hits me like a ton of bricks, because I've fallen for the closed-off bastard.

Holy shit. I’m in love with that insufferable grouch. What the hell had I been expecting? Why am I only now admitting it? I’ve never pretended to be the most self-aware person out there. Yet somehow, he has burrowed his way into my heart, and I find myself falling for the most closed-off man I’ve ever met.

What a time to realize it.

After getting the boys fed and ready for school, I decide to let Lou sleep. She wore herself thin between work and Sophie, and a few hours of uninterrupted sleep will do her a world of good. The breakfast rush is just what I need to distract myself from yesterday.

"Are you okay?"

"Ma'am?" The woman I had seen before the boys’ basketball game sits in the booth looking at me with a haggard face full of concern.

Upon touching my cheeks, I find them damp. I excuse myself and rush back into the storeroom. Taking a shaky breath, I close the door behind me. Sliding down the wall, I pull my knees up and bury my face in my arms, allowing myself a small breakdown before pulling myself together. Several minutes later, the door opens and closes softly.

"I'll be out in a sec Joe," I croak out.

When I don’t hear the door open again, I draw my head up and find Maddox standing there looking just as miserable as I am. Despite still wearing the same clothes as the day before, one look at his handsome face I know he hasn’t slept either. He looks so defeated standing in the dimly lit storeroom that I feel a tinge of pain in my chest. His presence usually fills up any room, but today his deflated form damn near blends in the shadows.Wiping my tears furiously with my hands, I stand. Maddox takes a step forward before I stop him.

"Don't come near me."

A faint whisper comes from those lips I'd grown to admire so much, "I would never hurt you, Pretty Girl."

"Are you going to threaten me with a belt if I say I don’t believe you?” I asked cruelly.

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