The Age of Love (Book #1)

36. Guess Who's Back?

Madison pov

22nd of March

"And here's to the new home!"

We toast, Julia and I, Katinka, Johan and few other friends and coworkers from both sides.

Everyone offered to give a little of what they had and didn't need to the new house. Unfortunately due to our financial circumstances we were only able to move in April and there was still a lot to be done.

Funny enough I hadn't seen the apartment, I've been doing extra hours to save as much as I could and the hotel had been unusually busy. So I decided to trust Julia, she had better taste than me, in most things.

That Thursday we all got together at The Social Grill, a lovely bohemian style steak house with the most wonderful food and cushy environment.

"So Maddie, Jules says you girls need a pair of hands to give the flat a new look." Luke poked my elbow, showing off his perfect set of white teeth at me.

He was nice, too nice, like the last 3 guys Julia tried to hook me up with and I politely declined. But Luke had been the most persistent and the most loving, so much so that he offered his guest room's mattress, but our conversations were so one sided that I was starting to run out of manners to get him to take a hint.

And to top it off on the way to The Social Grill, the radio played Jenny From The Block and I'm instantly reminded of my last day in Tokyo with Hiro and his love for J-Lo.

"Oh no, Jules said that? I mean it's enough that you're offering us your extra mattress, I couldn't possibly ask for more!" I swerve for the 10th time.

"Not a chance, I mean you guys could save a lot instead of hiring a moving company. Plus, if you guys can get that couch up to the 6th floor, pigs and rhinos will fly."

"Speaking of flying pigs." I take a look at my drink. "I need a refill."

I jump out of my seat walking as fast as I can to the bar area. I could hear Luke in the background naively asking Katinka what does flying pigs have to do with drinks.

"The things I do for a mattress." I sigh.

"Soooo... How's my favourite gal?" Jules hugs me from behind startling me.

"Well clearly burning my paycheck on shots, if Luke doesn't get off of me."

"Poor Luke Maddie, he's not the brightest but he's so goddamn adorable, and, we need every pair of hands we can get."

"And we will! But please stick to Marketing and stop acting like my personal low budget pimp!"

"Don't crush my dreams Maddie." Julia plays offended. "Tell me what's missing and I'll find the love of your life for you!" She claims confidently, her insisting little pixie eyes were hard to get mad at.

"Try finding the holy grail, it'll be easier."

Katinka joins us a little bit tipsy, ordering some water, we hadn't even ordered food yet.

"Madison, that cute lil puppy over there doesn't stop asking about you! Like What does Maddie like? Where can I take her out? Blab and blab."

"Sweet but I'm not interested and HE'S NOT my type." I say to both of them.

"She's into big men, mafia ties." Julia speaks.

"Aha, I see, like old school Johnny Depp in the movie Cry Baby." She looks at me flirty. "Or Damon Salvatore!"

"Oh gosh! In my mind I've been married to Damon Salvatore for 9 years." Julia gushes hysterically.

"Why is toxic dick the best? Asking for myself." Katinka wonders.

"Okay Britney Spears! Let's get you sobered up" I stop her from saying anything further.

(...)

At the table I couldn't resist checking my phone every now and then, my mind was stuck in another place/person, a Londoner, skin too dark for its locality, chocolate brown eyes and a heavenly voice. And occasionally it would drift to forbidden lanes, the ones I tried to shut since I left Tokyo, Theodore.

Overall Luke wasn't a bad chat, we actually shared a handful of interests but my heart just didn't race, I dart my eyes and everybody seemed to be doing just fine except for me, stuck in love limbo.

"I think it's time for you to leave the whining boat and hop into the ocean. There's plenty of fish in the sea." Jules sits in front of me out of nowhere. "Checking for Hiro?"

I nod. "Yeah but he said he went on a business trip and he'd text when he arrived. He hasn't yet, it's been 2 days, just a little worried."

"I'm sure it's nothing, c'mon let's have another round of tequila, unlike men, those always hit the spot!" She snatches the drinks menu from Kat, giving a quick look. "So again best friend, what's your type? José Cuervo, Don Julio..." Julia looks up to me and suddenly becomes very stiff, her bubbly smile falls down in a confusing expression.

"Jules?"

"Let me guess... Your type is tall, dark and all suited up." She teases me.

I blink for a second and my heart stops -Theodore - my thoughts scream.

But it wasn't. It was the last person I expected to see again.

Hiro.

"What the flying..."

"Pigs?" Luke says.

I jump out of the table and run to hug him, crashing into his chest and he loses a bit of balance, everyone turns their attention in shock to my sudden reaction, I couldn't care less. Hiro hugs me back just as tight lifting me off the ground in pure joy.

"I freaking missed you Noshimuri." I tell him.

"Likewise. It's so good to see you darling." I can feel him smiling with his face buried in my hair.

I missed his scent, his accent, his presence.

Hiro felt like an angel, always showing up in my darkest moments, but right behind him another man walks in and my entire body freezes in place.

Theodore.

*So I released the first chapter of another book called Dante :) If you're into supernatural-romance, please check it out! It's in my feed.

*Sorry, I know this chapter isn't big stuff but I wanted to update something and also not make it too long. Thanks to all the loyal readers!