𝐄𝐃𝐆𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐇 | ᴊᴀᴠɪᴇʀ ᴘᴇɴᴀ |

~ 36 ~

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[JAVIER PEÑA'S POV]

The drive to Madison's house was comfortably quiet. After a quick stop to pick up some food, I navigated the familiar streets, my mind drifting to the new territory of our relationship. It felt good to be doing something normal, something domestic. Madison had insisted on coming back to her place to clean up, and I was happy to oblige. We'd been spending most of our time at my place; she deserved to be comfortable in her own space.

As we stepped inside, Madison immediately started tidying up, a whirlwind of activity as she moved from room to room. I set the food on the kitchen counter and began setting up the table, my eyes following her as she changed into something more comfortable-a pair of leggings and an oversized t-shirt. She looked effortlessly beautiful.

"You know, I never thought I'd see the day where my living room looked like a tornado hit it," she called out from the bedroom, her voice light and teasing, a laugh escaping her lips.

I chuckled, shaking my head. "You should see my place on a bad day."

She reappeared in the living room, a basket of laundry in her hands. "Oh, I have. But it still manages to look like a showroom."

I couldn't help but smile as I watched her move around. There was something incredibly endearing about the way she took care of things. It made me realize how much I liked her-more than I'd allowed myself to admit.

As she passed by me, I seized the opportunity, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her onto the couch with me. She let out a surprised yelp, trying to push me away with a mock stern expression. "Javier! I have so much to do."

I silenced her protests with a kiss, making her laugh against my lips. "It's time to eat," I murmured. "I'll help you with the house after."

She sighed, giving in and settling next to me. We started eating, and the conversation flowed naturally. Eventually, she looked at me thoughtfully. "You never talk about your family. What were they like?"

I felt my smile falter, my mood shifting. It wasn't a topic I enjoyed discussing, but I knew she deserved to know. "I'm an only child," I began, choosing my words carefully. "My parents were always fighting. My mother... she was a saint, but my father was a different story. He was always drunk, angry, always ready for a fight."

Madison reached out, her hand covering mine. "No one deserves that."

I took a deep breath, the memories flooding back with a mix of nostalgia, sadness, and anger. "I tried to defend my mother, but it just made things worse. He would turn his anger on me, and it became a daily thing-arguing, kicking, punching. It was unbearable."

Her eyes were filled with empathy, urging me to continue. "That's why I started going out every night. It was a way to escape, to avoid being at home. That's also how I got my reputation with women. It was easier to find comfort in them than face what was happening at home."

Madison squeezed my hand, her voice soft. "You didn't deserve that. No one does."

I nodded, grateful for her understanding. "It's in the past now, but it shaped who I am. Made me determined to be better, to never be like him. I may have been with a lot of women, but I always tried to be careful with them. I never wanted to hurt anyone the way he hurt my mother."

Madison's expression softened. "Did your mother ever manage to escape from it?"

I smiled faintly. "She did. After I started gaining some money, I went back to Colombia, got her out, and brought her to the US. She was living in Portland until she met thai man from Vancouver and now they are living together, he's someone I really trust."

Madison looked at me, a mixture of admiration and curiosity in her eyes. "How come you never talked about her? Do you keep in contact with her?"

I shrugged, feeling a bit vulnerable. "I never had anyone to talk about this kind of stuff with. But yes, I do keep in touch with her. We talk regularly."

Madison's eyes sparkled with warmth. "Could I meet her someday?"

I smiled, touched by her genuine interest. "I'd like that. It had been a long time since I visited her. Maybe it's time. I think she'd like you."

We sat in silence for a while, the weight of the conversation settling between us. Then Madison leaned closer, her head resting on my shoulder. "You are better, Javier. Thank you for telling me this."

I kissed the top of her head, feeling a profound sense of peace. "Thank you for being like this."

I ate some of the food and then took a sip of beer. I looked at Madison for a moment, and as I saw her concentrated on the movie, I stood up to go to my jacket and took out my pack of cigars. I came back and sat again behind Madison.

"What's that?" she asked me as I opened the pack.

I put the blunt in my mouth. "Do you mind?"

She arched her eyebrows. "As long as you share some."

I lit the blunt and took a puff of it. "Do you hit these?" I asked, kind of surprised, as I had never seen her smoking.

"I used to sometimes. A good friend of mine once recommended I smoke this to help my anxiety," she took a sip of water and hugged me, making me lean over so that she was lying on top of me, her head resting on my chest.

I took the blunt out of my mouth and put it in hers. "This is good. I didn't know you smoked these."

"I have a friend that gives me the best. This also helps me to relax a little," I confessed, returning it to my lips. I closed my eyes, feeling the calm return to my body, my heartbeat matching hers. "I love you, Maddie," I wasn't afraid anymore of telling it, and it really made me feel good. "I love you so much."

"I love you too, Javi," she answered back.

We finished our meal in comfortable silence, watching a movie, the bond between us growing stronger. There was still so much to talk about, so much to share, but I knew we had time. For now, just being with her was enough.

[To be continued...]

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**NEW FAN FIC POSTED!!**

- LINES AND FIRE - JAVIER PEÑA -

CHAPTER 1 IS ALREADY OUT! PLEASE GO AND CHECK IT OUT, I RESLLY HOPE YOU LIKE IT!!