Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
MADDOX
"Evie, when did you run into her?" I need to know how long she's been here so I can get an idea of what the fuck she wants.
"Remember when you took the boys to their basketball game?"
"Yeah, that's the morning you let me braid your hair," I tell her fondly as I twist a long strand of her hair around my finger. The more I look at her, the less anger I feel. Before I met Evie, I believed I only ever loved Allison. However, now I realize what I thought I felt was a joke compared to what I feel for the beauty next to me. I'm so damn thankful every time I look at her that Bash climbed the roof of my house that day.
Evie blesses me with a smile that hits me square in the chest. "You forget nothing, but yes that day I almost ran her over after rushing through the door in my hurry to get the game. That's the first time, and the second was that day in the cafe," she looks down, "Before you found me in the storeroom."
Shame is all I feel as I look at her pretty face. I had hurt her and put that look on her face. I know that shit isn’t forgotten because I haven’t forgotten it or the fear on her face that day, and I damn sure haven’t forgotten how broken she was that day in the storeroom. Knowing I’m the one who caused that made me disgusted with myself and I vowed to make it right, be worthy of her kind of messy the rest of my life.
I would never admit to her that Aunt Joe caught me sitting outside by her car that day and dragged me inside by my ear. After talking with my brothers, it hit me—I needed to share every part of myself with Evie, even the ugly bits. Just like Merc had needed me to sit with him in his pain earlier that day, I realized that’s what I needed to do with her. But first, I had to find her and grovel like hell to earn back her trust.
“What happened to your eye?”
“Vic,” I tell her ashamed. Not ashamed of the black eye but of what I had done to earn it. The fact that he only gave me one made me feel even worse, the old bastard should have whipped my ass. Not walk in clock me with a one two combo and leave.
She yanks my ear even harder before uttering good under her breath.
“I don't know what the hell is going on, but you better fix it and fix it right now,” Joe says, pulling me to sit in the chair across from her desk.
“This isn't going to be that easy, Aunt Joe.”
Joe looks at me, and I look at my feet, afraid the old crow will be able to see too much.
“You big dumb son of a bitch.” Joe sits down hard in her chair and crosses her arms over her chest. “What would your mama do if I called her and told her that her son turned out to be just like her ex-husband? You know the one you almost killed because he put hands on your mama?”
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 home from 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 the fuck 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.