Page 51 of These Jagged Edges

I drop my head into my hands, she’s right. My mama would disown my ass, and that'd be the nicest thing she'd do.

“Well, I know what she'd do, she'd catch the first flight homefrom her trip and whip your ass. Hell, I'd give her my good frying pan to do it.”

A moment passes before she speaks again, “Maddox, look at me.”

“That woman,” she points outside the door, “has lived through enough dark days.” Joe drops her hand and gives me a grave look. “I know you're hurting, Maddox. But if you'd only let her, she'd help you carry all that pain and transform it into something beautiful. You're only going to get one Evie Taylor a lifetime."

“I know that Aunt Joe, at first I didn’t want any part of this darkness to touch her, she’s already endured so much.”

“Don't you see? Evie's strength comes from her suffering, so never doubt her ability to help carry the heavy shit.”

Joe knew she was right; I didn't have to tell her that. I stand needing to see Evie.

“Before you go, this is the only time I will say this. I've spent too many nights seeing your mama like that.” She points towards the diner on the other side of the wall. "If I ever see that girl in the state she's in now because of you, family or not, I’ll chop your balls off Maddox Cole."

Joe’s a no-nonsense woman, so I know in my heart she'll carry out that threat without batting an eye. However, I meant what I said when I told Evie I'd spend every day being worthy of her.

So, that means Allison has been here for a few months, and something about that makes my stomach sour. I gently tug Evie's ear. "What do you say? Should we go see what she wants Pretty Girl?"

Evie's mouth opens and closes a couple of times. "You want me to go over there with you?"

"Without a doubt."

Evie takes a deep breath. "Alright, let's go."

I count to a hundred on the way to my house, attempting to retain some sense of calm before dealing with the shit storm sitting on my porch. My mind is pulled in a million different directions trying to figure out what thefuck she wants.

"Hey, sugar," Mercy greets Evie. Trying to sound like his usual self but I can tell Allison’s presence has him rattled.

"You good little brother?"

Mercy gives me a short nod and then I turn my attention to the woman sitting on the other end of the front steps.

"What do you want?"

Allison looks at me assessing me from the ground up. If it wasn't for her blue eyes and black hair, I wouldn't even be sure I was looking at Allison. I knew without a doubt she was still using, and it wasn't because she looked like a bum or weighed 90 pounds soaking wet, it was the hollow look on her face she always had while using drugs. Like she was possessed by something that looked and sounded like her, but Allison was nowhere to be found. But I guess that’s what addiction is. Losing yourself to the next fix or high until you were so far gone you can’t even find yourself anymore.

"What the hell do you want?" I ask firmer.

"I did love her Maddox," Allison says. Fuck her for saying that, she only ever loved drugs and telling me how I ruined her relationship with Livvy.

"That's fucking great, but it doesn't answer my question. What the fuck do you want? Money? Is that it? Hooking not bringing in enough to support your little addiction?" I crowd her, unleashing my anger.

"Maddox." I feel a small palm on my arm and look down into eyes as unique as the person who owned them. "That's enough."

Evie sticks her hand out and gives Allison a smile that rivaled the fucking sun. "Hi! I'm Evie. I believe we've already met, sort of. Would like to come in for a bit?"

A few minutes later we all sit around my kitchen table, Mercy is stuffing his face, and Evie is softly talking to Allison. I look at Allison but don't hear what she's saying. She lost her baby too, Maddox. I replay the words over and over in my head as if trying to pick each word apart as if to uncover their damn meaning.

Chapter Twenty

EVIE

Maddox sitsbeside me rigid as a damn rock. His eyes never leave his ex-wife seated across the table from us. I don't know what possessed me to invite the woman into his home. But something about her sitting there looking so broken made me feel like I was swallowing glass. I couldn't take another second with Maddox looming over her, so I invited her in. Mercy left mumbling something about needing to get back to the shop and as much as I wished to join him, I knew Maddox needed me here.

Would I regret it? Probably. Could she be an evil person only looking for money? Yeah, but something in my gut told me that isn’t why she’s here.

I watch as Allison squirms under Maddox's intense gaze. Nobody says a word. The awkwardness is bearable, it's the silence that's not.

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