☙❦❧

was trying to find everyone.

He grumbled as he fished his phone out of his pocket before dialing Reese's number. It was a while until the idiot on the other side answered.

"Dude where the fuck are you guys?"

"By the car," Reese explained, "We were thinking of heading back home and just watching a movie or something."

Maddox furrowed his eyebrows, "Not planning on staying any longer?"

"Nah man we're good to go. Especially after you ditched Evelyn."

He froze. He was quiet for a few seconds trying to think of something to says

"Was she," he awkwardly started, "was she mad at me?"

Reese sighed on the other end, "Of course not Maddox she could never be mad at you. And if she was she'd get over it quickly."

Maddox ran a hand through his hair, feeling slightly guilty now. "Then what's the problem?" he asked.

"The problem is that she's hurt."

Maddox inhaled sharply. The thought of Evelyn being hurt didn't sit well with him. It was like someone had driven a stake through his heart.

"Fuck," he cursed softly at himself. "Shit Reese I didn't realize it was that big of a deal. A girl just wanted me to go through the haunted house with her. I felt half bad. She said she wanted to make her ex jealous."

He rolled his eyes as Reese laughed on the other end. "Did you see her look out for her ex while she was with you?"

Maddox racked his brain for a moment when that girl wasn't clinging on to his arm.

"Actually no," he stated with a pout.

"And?" Reese questioned telling him to go on.

"She was a little clingy," Maddox muttered with annoyance seeping into his voice.

Reese laughed harder.

"Shut the fuck up asshole," Maddox grumbled out. "I'll be at the car in a few."

Before Reese could respond, Maddox cut the call and shoved his phone back into his pocket. He took a deep breath letting his anger show through as he started walking towards the parking lot. He was such a fucking idiot. He should've known that his actions were stupid. He wasn't thinking at all. Fuck. She wouldn't be too hurt would she? She'd forgive him. She always did.

He shook his head trying to clear that thought. No. He didn't like that she always forgave him. Sweet, innocent Evelyn. A girl with the most beautiful soul. And here he was always taking advantage without realizing.

As he stayed immersed in his thoughts, it wasn't long before he arrived at the parking lot. Reese called out his name and Maddox raised his head immediately looking for Evelyn.

"Where is she?" he asked impatiently once he reached where the car was parked. Reese raised an eyebrow at Maddox's jittery stance before pouting his thumb towards the car.

"She's asleep in the car with Tiana. They got tired," he sighed.

Maddox nodded his head. "Okay," he said trying to calm himself down for whatever reason, "Okay let's go then."

As he started walking towards the driver's side, Reese put a hand up to Maddox's chest. Maddox stared at him quizzically.

"What are you gonna do?" Reese asked.

Maddox pursed his lips. His hands were curled up in fists by his side as he tried to think of what to say to Evelyn.

"I have no clue," he confessed quietly as he leaned his head back against the car. "What do you think I should say?"

Reese shrugged his shoulders. "Advice is never good when you're dealing with something so personal. You have to figure out what to say because the things that aren't practiced and rehearsed are always the most genuine."

Maddox stared at him confused and Reese sighed again. He patted Maddox's back as he went around to the other side to get into the passengers seat.

"Just don't be an ass. That's all I'm telling you."

~•~

As they arrived at Maddox's house, the girls were still fast asleep.

"Let's just take them upstairs to sleep," Reese suggested as he and Maddox turned back to look at the two girls asleep leaning against each other.

Maddox nodded in agreement.

Both of them got out of the car and Reese opened the side door before slipping his arms under Tiana as carefully as he could. Securing her in his arms, he started to pick her up bridal style.

Until her head hit the metal of the car. Hard.

Maddox looked at Reese with wide eyes as Reese looked back at him in fear.

"Shit," he whispered.

Tiana groaned at the pain and her eyes fluttered open as she registered what just happened. She looked at Maddox, then the car, then finally at Reese. She was still groggy but aware of what had just happened as she quickly slapped Reese's arm as hard as she could from the angle at which he was holding her. Reese winced.

"When you don't want to wake a girl up, you don't hit her head against the car," she hissed at him, her eyes shooting daggers.

He gave her an apologetic expression. "Oops?"

She glared at him hard before whimpering as the pain got worse. "That really hurt Reese," she whispered as tears collected in her eyes.

His eyes got wide again. "I swear I didn't mean it. Please don't cry?"

A tear fell as she blinked and before Maddox could interject, the full on waterworks had started. "I'm tired," she mumbled as the tears kept falling. "I'm so tired and you hit my head!"

"Sshhh shhh," Reese trying calming her, "Here come on we'll put you in bed and then get you some Advil for the pain. How about that?"

Tiana stared at him with her wide glossy eyes. "Okay," she pouted before snuggling further into his arms as the thought of sleep made her even more exhausted.

Reese shot a look to Maddox screaming thank god. Maddox stifled a laugh not wanting to make any noise. He motioned for Reese to go along and get Tiana in bed before her hormones make her want to punch the living daylights out of him.

Maddox quietly opened the other side door, quickly picking Evelyn up just as Reese had done with Tiana, except making sure to not hit her head against the car.

He kicked the car door close as he walked into the house and up the stairs into his room. Just as he was about to lay Evelyn in bed, he froze. She snuggled in closer to him and it made him feel warm. She was asleep and even then she found comfort in his arms. He looked at her, her lips as inviting as ever and then he sighed.

He hurt her. He didn't get to admire her.

Very carefully, he put her on the bed and then grabbed the sheets to pull on top of her. He ran his hands softly through her hair, wishing he hadn't caused her pain again. Wishing he hadn't left her again. Wishing things didn't go south again.

He leaned down to place a featherlight kiss on her forehead before moving away to get changed and sleep on the couch. However, a gentle hand had grabbed his own and halted him from going anywhere. He turned around and looked down at Evelyn's hand grasping his, her eyes slightly open staring at him. It seemed he'd accidentally woken her up.

"Did I wake you?" he asked very softly, not wanting to make any sudden loud noises so late at night.

She nodded her head, "Uh hmm."

"I'm sorry," he whispered back.

She didn't smile but her eyes said everything. That it was okay. So with that, he slowly moved away, letting her hand drop.

"I'm gonna change and I'll be gone in a flash," he reassured her.

She frowned. All of a sudden it's like his words pushed her to get up or something. She quickly threw her legs over the edge of the bed ready to get up and follow him. "Where?" she asked with confusion laced in her voice.

He pointed towards the bedroom door. "Towards the guest room."

Her frown deepened and he didn't like it. He should get out quickly before he caused her to be any more upset. He went to the closet to change out of his jeans and shirt. He welcomed the chill against his skin, feeling a lot less trapped. He felt way too warm in his room. Where Evelyn was.

Exiting the closet, he came to a stop as he took notice of Evelyn's new appearance.

She was no longer wearing her jeans. They were thrown across the floor as she continued to sit on his bed. Her head was down and it seemed she was in deep thought. Her legs were on complete show, but he refused to look up any more than her lower thighs knowing the cami she was wearing wasn't long enough to cover anything substantial.

He gulped.

Quickly asserting his eyes somewhere else, he looked at her face noticing that she was now looking back at him.

"Why aren't you sleeping here?" she asked with her soft quiet voice. "Did I do something?"

When he heard the quiver in her voice he couldn't help but let his instincts take over. He slowly walked over to where she was sitting before placing himself between her legs and getting on his knees so they would be at eye level. He placed his hands on her hips, making sure her attention was on his.

"You didn't do anything," he promised her as she bit her lip in uncertainty. "I just don't think you'd want me here tonight."

She furrowed her eyebrows at him, "Why wouldn't I want you here?"

The way she looked at him told him she was being genuine. She did want him here. She didn't seem to have a reason to not want him around. She wasn't rejecting his touch or the close proximity in which his body was by hers. That told him enough.

That she forgave him. Before they could even address the problem.

He sighed, "Evelyn what I did today hurt you. And I'm sorry for not realizing. And I don't think you want me here."

She shook her head, looking down at her hands, as if trying to comprehend his words. "You didn't hurt me," she quickly said like she wanted the words to be true and get the lie over with.

He cupped her chin softly lifting her head up to look him in the eyes. He didn't say anything, wanting to let her speak first. So he stared at her, waiting for her to admit it. To admit that he hurt her. He noticed the tear fall down her cheek and she quickly wiped it as if it was nothing. His heart tightened in pain. Pain he caused her.

She took a shaky breath getting ready to speak. "But I forgive you," she mumbled quietly pleading with him through her eyes.

As if pleading with him to forgive her. But what did she need to be forgiven for? He was the one who hurt her.

"Evelyn," he started in exasperation, "You don't hav——"

She grabbed his shoulders bringing her body closer to his. "I forgive you," she cried softly at him, "I do. I forgive you. There's nothing else to be said you can sleep here now."

Her voice was impatient and urgent, as if she couldn't sleep without him. He watched her whisper the same words over and over again in a frenzy, not letting go of him, making sure he wouldn't go anywhere.

"I forgive you Maddox. It's okay I forgive you," she said once again as he tried to get up. She locked her legs around him, not giving him the opportunity to get up and leave the room.

"Evelyn," Maddox dejectedly said, "Let go."

She shook her head, "No it's fine you did nothing wrong. You never hurt me. You can stay," she pleaded again, "You can stay."

He stopped trying to get up. Instead he watched as she cried for him to stay. Telling him that he didn't do anything.

But he knew that he did. And she loved him that much she didn't care that she wanted someone who had hurt her less than three hours ago.

It was wrong.

Not their relationship. Because he didn't want for them to end, although technically they still weren't together. But their relationship wasn't what was wrong. What was wrong was that Evelyn didn't realize how much Maddox hurt her. She was ignoring it to keep them together. He didn't want her to ignore it.

"Evelyn," he spoke once more, his voice more firm, demanding attention. Her pleads became quiet and she slowly looked up at him with her quivering lips.

"Tell me the truth."

She shook her head and opened her mouth, probably to repeat the same thing all over again. That he didn't do anything. That she wasn't hurt. Heartbroken.

But he stopped her from saying all that again. "Say it," he said with his tone hard.

She whimpered softly as he raised her chin again to look at him.

"Tell me," he softly coaxed her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear to rest his hand on the back of her head.

She looked at him with the tears softly streaming down her face. He wiped them one by one, kissing her cheek and causing her eyes to flutter shut.

"You did hurt me."

He froze as the words finally left her mouth and she opened her eyes once again to look back at him. He knew he did, but Evelyn finally telling him the truth was what made him so angry with himself all over again.

"But it's okay," she whispered reassuringly, bringing his eyes back up to hers, "It's okay."

He shook his head. "Stop."

And so she did. She got quiet and her body went rigid.

He leaned forward, inhaling her scent. The scent that kept him grounded. He loved everything about her.

"I don't want you to say that it's okay. Or that you forgive me. I want you to tell me that I hurt you. That's all," he whispered softly looking at her, "How much did I hurt you?"

It was as if his words hypnotized her and the tears started all over again. Her body shook and he knew it shook from the pain. From keeping it all in. The tears fell hard and she could barely breathe.

"It hurts so much." she finally confessed as she tried to get herself to stop.

"I know," he started, "I know and I'm so sorry I'm sorry baby."

She furiously shook her head pushing him away, letting her legs fall back down. "Don't call me that!" She cried refusing to look at him again, "Please. I don't like it when you say it by mistake."

As she went to push him away again, he quickly grabbed her wrists to stop her. "Look at me Evelyn," he asked quietly, "Look at me."

She looked at him quickly before reverting her eyes again and he sighed. He turned her head towards him again.

"I mean it. I mean it with every bone in my body. I'm sorry for hurting you," he apologized, "I'm so so sorry sweetheart. I'm sorry."

She nodded her head as if understanding his apology. He didn't know what else to do though. However, at the same time he knew they needed to talk.

Talk about what they were to each other at this moment. He may feel like a shit head for hurting her, but his actions weren't out of line. She was hurt because she liked him. She still felt that way. But she had broken his heart when she left him after his mother's death. He felt abandoned and sick to his stomach that the one person he thought he could depend on and lean on when it came time for him to break down, left him alone. She left him.

So why was he the one always in the wrong? Why was he the asshole for hanging out with someone else? Why was he being portrayed as the toxic one?

He loved her no doubt. But it was unfair. He didn't get to be mad at her for what she did. He never got time to be angry and hate her for a while. He never had the time because she forced her way back in.

And he loved her too much to hate her.

As his thoughts kept him trapped in his own mind, Evelyn placed her small hand on his shoulder to shake him out of the clouds. Her eyes asked him about what he was thinking.

He sighed before taking a step away from her and he almost faltered at seeing the pain in her eyes at his actions.

"Why am I the one always screwing things up? Why is it always my fault?" he finally said before he could hold his tongue. His voice was gentle and his eyes curious, nothing about him screaming hatred and furiousness.

He just wanted to know.

She sat quietly, taking her time to look at her hands before glancing up at him with her big brown eyes shining with tears. She opened her mouth to speak, but her lips quivered and she remained quiet for a few more seconds.

He was waiting, but wasn't sure when she'd respond.

"I know."

He tilted his head, confused with her short sentence. She took a deep breath and rubbed her eyes gingerly, offering him the smallest smile in attempt to help him heal.

"I realized," she softly continued. "I've hurt you worse than you've ever hurt me. You hurt me with words and all you really did was keep the company of a girl. You honestly did nothing wrong Maddox," she confessed. "You never cheated when we were together and I know you haven't done anything with anyone during our time before and after too. You've always stayed true and I'm here crying because you accompanied a girl to the haunted house," she blabbered laughing at herself through her tears.

"I'm being ridiculous and shouldn't make you feel like the dick right now. We aren't together and you could do whatever you want. So I'm sorry for making you feel bad. I'm sorry for making you feel like the asshole when I'm the bitch who left you as soon as I found my own happiness."

Maddox was stunned. He didn't expect her to recite him an essay and he was shocked to say the least. She slowly got up from where she was sitting and drew herself close to his body, wrapping her arms around his neck to gently kiss him on the cheek.

"I gave you reasons not to dive right back into this relationship," she said, forcing him to look at her clearly. "I've told you how much you've hurt me, but I never bothered asking how much I hurt you."

Maddox never liked discussing his feelings. So why did a single tear drop down his cheek? Evelyn quickly kissed it away, doing exactly what he had done moments before. He smiled at her and she blushed furiously.

"You did hurt me a lot," he managed to murmur out after a long pause.

"I know I was a mess after her death," he started, referring back to his mother. "But it's not like those in mourning will be the most sensitive people during their time to heal. I know I was cold, but it was supposed to be your job to warm me up... not leave because suddenly you were too okay to handle broken again," he whispered softly as he stared at the wall behind her instead.

Tears clouded Evelyn's vision again and she let out a soft whimper, for the first time she was finally hearing about his pain. "I'm sorry," she told him as genuinely as she could.

He kissed her forehead. "I know."

She nodded her head and she squeezed herself closer to him. "I won't ever hurt you again," she whispered.

"I won't ever hurt you again," he promised as Evelyn gazed at him with unshed tears in her eyes. He wiped away the lone ones still on her cheek and slowly, he kissed her softly on the lips.