The Age of Love (Book #1)

31. Reality Check

Madison P.O.V

Jesus lord, I didn't?

I look into the mirror and images from last night flash like a movie in front of me. It's amazing how things slip so easily out of control whenever I'm with him, and I mean everything, how did we even end up in porn sex after that mexican-korean drama from last night?

I shake it off, except for the embarrassment, that one stayed, I had never done this before.

I turn on the hot water and gladly get under the rain shower, as if a gush of hot water would wash away all my problems but my gut was telling me something wasn't right, like the drama wasn't over.

Time was ticking, it was.

Soon i'd be back in South Africa and what did I actually achieve in this trip?

It turned into a soap opera of messed up and I won the main role.

"Why is my girl here alone and not with me?" His voice appeared from behind me, wrapping his arm around my waist placing a warm kiss on my neck.

"You scared me Theo." I smile.

"Do you feel ok?"

I nod.

"Madison." He turns me around to look at him. Why. The embarrassment.

"I do, it's just, this whole thing is Strange!" I blurt out hiding my face but he fights my hands away.

"Did you enjoy it at least?" He soundes genuinely concerned.

"Yes Theodore, now stop it! Anal talk is not the kind of conversation I want to be having in the shower with you!" I laugh.

"Okay fine, no anal talk. So what do you want to talk about?" His deep voice laughs along.

"Like when are we actually spending some quality time in Tokyo?"

Our shower lasted almost an hour, Theodore got dressed for work as usual and we headed to the kitchen, finding Hiro leaned against the counter top grimacing over the cup of tea he was holding.

"Good morning there." I say feeling sorry for him.

"Morning." His voice sounds painfully raspy.

"How do you feel?" Theodore asks, I can't tell if he's being genuine or ironic.

"Better than I deserve.. Listen, cousin, Madison, about last night I'm sorry... I will check-in a hotel today."

"It's ok." Theodore sipped on his coffee, I look at him to be sure.

"You don't have to, you can stay but parenting my 31 year old cousin isn't something I want nor you." He says, taking one last sip before grabbing his stuff and kissing me goodbye, leaving me once again behind.

As soon as the door slammed I turn myself to Hiro.

"Me on the other hand, I want to thank you." I tell him and I pat on the bench for him to sit next to me.

"Don't mention it, I might've been slightly tipsy but I think by now, you've figured the family dynamic." Hiro responds taking slow sips of chamomile "Is he leaving you alone again?"

"He has work." I quote Theodore.

"Not quite what you've imagined, hay love?"

He wasn't wrong, it was nothing like I imagined, maybe I was being irrational in the beginning but I kind of expected him to make a little time for me? I admit, I didn't think this through.

Hiro wasn't being judgmental, he was simply stating the obvious.

"Do you prefer Tokyo or London?" I deflect terribly and Hiro doesn't push the subject.

"That's a hard question for a hungover lad." He laughs in pain. "Tokyo is quite futuristic, it's almost like living in a video game with old traditions, you have nearly everything and anything you can imagine, now London, it's a lot of architectural charm mixed with several different mindsets of different cultures. We're surrounded by modernisation and history at the same time. You should visit London, actually the whole country of England."

I barely noticed how engaged he had me with his description, I had my elbow on the breakfast counter and my head resting on my palm. "I think the only trip i'll be doing for the next decade is to my yard and back."

We both laugh.

"Well I must head for work, also need to start my adoptive process since I won't be getting any family invitations soon."

How did he manage to be so cheerful all the time?

"I'll take you." I joke.

"For scones?" Hiro smiles and disappears to the hallway, he left after a few minutes and I've never felt so alone. I decide to call Jules, I haven't spoken to her in ages.

Two rings, three rings.

"Hello?" A low voice answers on the other side.

"Jules! It's me Maddie!"

"Madison? Maddie? Are you for real?" She went from frightened kitten to stunned.

"Yeah, I'm so sorry I went MIA... You have no idea what happened—"

"Where the hell you been?!" She cuts me off angrily. "YOU, have no idea what happened! They found out Madison, they found out you took off to see Theodore! It's over Maddie and I couldn't even reach you."