The Age of Love (Book #1)

29. M vs T

"When were you going to tell me?"

I ask. Leaving my eyes on road and the peaceful night lights of Tokyo.

"I... didn't think it mattered bringing up a subject from the past to our future. I thought about it but I didn't feel like you needed to know."

"You felt like I didn't need to know?" I gasp.

"It was a chapter in my life that ended 7 years ago, I honestly didn't think it was relevant to us!"

"How'd you feel if I told you I was married to Paul?"

He looked at me shortly in horror.

"Yeah. Exactly, you see Theodore it's the hiding that bothers me. I told you all about my life, my past relationships and what build me to the person I am today, and you didn't think mentioning you were once married was important?"

"Madison, I chose not to and I can't take it back now, ok? I don't like talking about it, and I never thought I'd see her again until..."

"Until Sapphire brought her tonight." I finish his sentence.

"I feel like there's a whole part of you, your life, that is pitch black to me." I murmur.

"One day, when I can, I'll tell you all about it. I just can't today."

I think I heard enough.

I notice Theo switching lanes, turning streets just driving with no apparent direction in mind, I don't complain, as soon as we reach the highway, it was actually relaxing along with cold air of December.

"Hiro went too far tonight." Theodore hisses.

"Because stepping boundaries is not something your sister does." I was aware we were about to start again.

"I will not comment on that."

"I mean don't you think it's strange that a stranger that I met only yesterday, seems to stand up for me more than my actual boyfriend?" I was talking loud at this point.

"Are you dignifying that crap Hiro just performed?!"

"Comparing to the zen garden act you always keep up? The means may not have been the best, but it felt so freaking good to have someone stand up for me and state the fucking obvious." I spit.

Theodore drifts his eyes to the road. Sighing heavily.

"You're expecting me to choose sides, I can't choose between you and my family."

"That's what you don't see. You never do." I shake my head incredulous.

"I do Madison. I do." He states firmly. "I know Sapphire hasn't been the nicest but insulting her won't do any good. It's only a matter of time, everyone looks at us like we're something out of this world and Sapphire isn't different. Hell If I put myself in their shoes and I'd feel the same, with a little time and conversa..."

"Conversation? Really? So I'm supposed to smile and nod every time she rubs in my face I'm your paid plus one? Be nice and be bitten?"

Theodore looked at me for a second but didn't have anything else to say.

"Hiro doesn't leave the house."

"It's not your decision."

"Excuse me, I thought I heard wrong the first time you said Welcome Home, assuming it was my home as well..."

"You're just being childish now!"

"Then maybe you should call Sorja to make some mature decisions with you! In your house!"

Theodore's sighs were a constant now but I wasn't bothered, I was fuming and letting it out. "Madison... please let's not go there."

"Hiro stays or I leave with him."

"What do you mean you leave with him?" He nearly shouts.

"Don't be stupid Theo, I leave if he leaves! Tokyo probably has one thousand hotels, doesn't mean I'm going to fuck the guy!"

"Fine. Hiro stays."

I felt partially relieved but not completely, I still had a few things stuck in my being, but letting out this little bit lifted my heavy spirit, I was still very angry at everything. I didn't want to be around anyone.

"I'd like you to stop in a hotel tonight. Any hotel, I just want to rest in peace."

"Don't be ridiculous, you have my house."

"I really don't feel like being in the same room as anyone else, if you don't mind, I need space." I tell him calmly.

"Madison. Please." He pleaded. "This is not how things are solved."

"Unless you want a third topic to fight about, I just need to be alone... and your couch is tiny for the both of us. I'll come back tomorrow relax."

"I'll sleep on the floor."

"What?"

"You heard what I said, I'll sleep on the floor, find my way on the couch but I can't let you stay alone in a hotel. It's. Crazy." Theodore said, his tone seemed genuine, but I wasn't comfortable with any of the options.

"Theo stop being so difficult..."

"It's settled. Stay in my room and I'll fix something, there's no way you're staying in a room alone in Tokyo."

We walk into the apartment in complete silence but we're instantly greeted by Hiro's intoxicated humming.

"Ah darling, you're back!"

I smile to him, I've never been happier to see a drunk person before. Thanks to his excess drinking tonight, he said things that no one had the courage to say.

Theodore didn't hide his clear annoyance to Hiro but before he could say anything I shoot him a daring glare, making him step away from us ignoring Hiro completely.

"Leave it to Hiro to start a war in the concrete jungle." He twists his voice into an ugly rusty sound. I laugh, drunk Hiro was even better than normal Hiro.

"What are you doing?" I ask watching him humming around the kitchen preparing something.

"Hangover Smoothie. I've got a business meeting tomorrow, Gotta Get that Bread."

"Oh my word, what is that made of?" I grimace.

"Greens, greens, greens... Greens. Whatever I found, eggs and pickle juice."

I nearly vomit in my seat.

"Good luck with that, tomorrow you'll get the bread and food poisoning." I shiver just by the thought of the taste.

"Google wouldn't lie to me." He grins over his shoulder to me. "Ok, there we go. Goodnight my darling... and oh. You were the star of the night." He points to my outfit before turning his feet around, walking to his room. I didn't know if my imagination played games or Hiro just winked at me, most likely a drunk wink.

As I leave the kitchen walking through the living room I bump into Theodore, grabbing a pillow and a white sheet, heading to the couch. We look at each other, swallowing the immense heaviness in the room between us.

Theo heads for the couch.

I head alone to the bedroom.

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Boy what a year.