Chapter 151 A safe space - T.J's POV
I look out on the terrace at Madz and Simon laughing. It's good to see her happy again. To see them both happy for that matter.
This is not even where they are supposed to be. They should be on stage dancing somewhere in the world.
At least they're alive. Katherine McDowell didn't have that luxury. Fucking Ben should have been here paying for his crimes, but I guess he's always been a coward and an asshole.
"You good?" Uncle Kevin slaps me lightly on the shoulder.
"I'm good." I nod. I'm always good as long as my family is.
""I don't think I've thanked you for taking care of Madison the way you've been doing."He turns serious. "It amazes me how you keep on leaving your own life behind for the sake of others. It takes a real man to do that. Your mother would have been proud of you."
They always say my mother would have been proud, yet I don't remember her apart form pictures I have of her and us when we were a happy family. My father says my brain might have erased her memories in order to protect myself from the hurt of losing her.
My mother was a baddie, she came from a country that didin't respect women, and she had to flee because she stood up for their rights. They found her, though, and unfortunately they managed to kill her. My father still feels responsible to this day that he didn't protect her enough, but he did the best he could. I don't blame him, but maybe I do feel this sense of responsibility to protect those that can't protect themselves.
"She's like my little sister, I would do anything for her." I shrug, just looking at her laughing with her friend already lights up my day.
"And you say that Miguel is a good guy?"Uncle Kevin asks skeptically, still not convinced that Ben's brother is a good fit for Madsion.
"I know he will never let anything happen to her, that he'll protect her with everything he has, even lay down his own life if he must."
It probably would seem absurd that the two of them are together. especially with what Ben has done, but if the two of them can find love in all this chaos, why not?
"And he's nothing like his brother, maybe you should give him a chance, and get to know him better. There's a reason Madison wants to be with him."
"Mmm." My uncle sighs heavily. "He asked for her hand in marriage. I can't believe two brothers came to ak me the same thing."
"What did you say?"
"What could I say? She's already pregnant, and it seems she wants to be wth him. I can't say that I approve, but I have to trust her judgement and support her in whatvever she decides to do."
That's why I love being a part of this family. Even though it might be hard for him, he's still thinking about his daughter's wishes, and pushing his own opinion to the side.
"What about you?" He asks curiously. "Is there no woman that you like? You've never brought anyone around."
Now he's just beginning to sound like his daughter. I don't even know how to answer that. I do have sex with women sometimes, but that's about where it ends. I don't have any desire to spend time with them outside of sex.
"I haven't found the right one yet."I say instead of all of that. He doesn't need to hear the sordid affairs of my love life.
I stick around in case Madison and Simon want to go anywhere, but she feels tired after lunch, and wants to take a nap. Simon says he'll get a cab or something, but I offer to drive him home instead.
We drive in a comfortable silence, but when we get to his apartment building, there are at least three reporters waiting outside to catch a glimpse of him.
"Shit!"There's panic in his pretty grey eyes, and I drive right on past.
"Where are you going?"He wants to know.
"You can stay at my place while all of this dies down a little," I tell him, surprising even myself with the offer. Apart from my parents, I've never stayed with anyone before, but when we get to my place and I show him around, it doesn't feel so weird.
"You really don't have to do this." Simon stands around like he doesn't know what to do. "I can crash at a friend's place or something."
"I don't mind, honestly." And I really don't, it feels oddly nice having him here. "Madison will never forgive me if something were to happen to you, so technically I'm saving myself. There is more than enough room for the both of us here, let me show you to the guest room."
He follows me to the bedroom just next to mine.
"Are you sure?"He asks again, frowning, and for some inexplicable reason I want to smooth out the lines in-between his forehead.
"I'm sure, we take care of what is ours." He follows me when I walk back to the living area. "Are there some things you need me to get from your place?"
"'You would do that for me?"He still looks unsure, and I take his arm into my hand, rubbing the muscles through his shirt.
"I told Madz I would protect you, and right now there are reporters in front of your place wanting to get the next story." I let his arm go when his eyes are looking at it and shove my hands that seem to have a mind of its own in my pockets. "Or would you rather have someone else get it for you?'
"No, of course not. "He shakes his head in bewilderment and takes his keys out of his small backpack. "Thank you so much, I owe you."
"You don't." I leave him there and drive to his place, the reporters shouting questions at me when they recognise me. Simon's place is everything I thought it would be, full of color, life and art, such a contrast to my boring grey furniture.
I never thought I liked all this color, but I feel a sense of ease in his place. I gather some of his clothes, feeling oddly priviledged that I get to go through his stuff.
It seems like he's still standing at the exact same spot that I left him when I return, and in a surprising move that I definitely never expected, he embraces me, hugging his exquisite body tight to mine.
"Thank you so much. T.J."The words feel intmate, more than a mere thanks.
And I wonder when the hell I started to find Simon attractive.