Chapter Twenty-four: Little Tokyo

When we woke up, Myles said he would take me to his mother. And being his fan for a couple of years, I was knowledgeable of the accident that cost the lives of both his parents when he was just a child. So I wondered the whole time who I was going to meet.

It was on Monday, sunrise back in Venice. Myles and Brayden had returned around four in the morning, along with Natalie. I wasn't asleep at the time. Even so, I was in between chatting with Myles and Scarlett Maverick.

The precise moment that perfectly defines the word 'bittersweet'.

Myles was sugar and honey and Scarlett was, well, Scarlett.

So when the door opened and Natalie came in along with the two boys, which meant a lot in my life, I had to text Myles. I would be spending the rest of the morning at his place. He left then and waited for me to find a way to sneak out as soon as Natalie started moaning behind the thin walls of the condo.

Myles and I slept until noon. Brayden didn't care to call for my whereabouts. There might be a note that I left on the fridge, claiming to be at the skate park, but I don't think he would even care, given these days he had been nothing but love-struck over some girl he met in a cafe.

See, I do not have anything against the woman, but I expected him to be my savior. He had assured me of that until now. Summer might be remarkable and all, but what will happen when it's over?

Scarlett does not forget, she does not let go.

Our order was just provided at In-N-Out when Myles pulled onto the road. We had asked for two double-doubles, French fries, and iced tea for breakfast. We haven't eaten since we woke up and took the road. The trip was sudden. I didn't have the time to go to my room and change. I had found some Myles clothes manageable to fit and slipped into them.

"We should've just eaten in the parking lot," I complained when I took a bite of my burger, which was now being shared because Myles's hands were on the steering wheel. I had to feed both of us.

The space was inconvenient, even for our safety, but I was desperate to feed Myles. I was crouching on the passenger side, doing it properly. I barely consider my stomach.

"Uhmm... and have me feed myself? Um, umm." He seductively smirked, glancing at me through his shade. I felt blood flow below my waist and my heart beating out of my chest.

Confidently, I blurt, "Oh, I still would, anyway."

He smiled lopsidedly, his jaw tightening while he was at it. It was sensational. I leaned forward and kissed him there.

"Uhmm... What's that for?" He asked and I shrugged.

"I don't know. I am just grateful for having you."

He looked over at me, smiling crookedly.

"You better because I have no intention of letting you go."

The rest of the drive was joyous. Myles ate most of the food, except for the fries.

He told me where we pulled by was called Little Tokyo. And of course, I've heard about it. I keenly climbed out of the vehicle in my oversized outfit and waited for him to circle over. When he did, we intertwined our fingers and headed into an apartment complex.

"What if she hates me?" I asked while we followed the stairs.

Another thing about me is that when I am nervous, I would rather take a longer route than the easiest path. So it is my fault we didn't get on an elevator. Instead, we were exercising our muscles, heading for the sixth floor.

"Who could ever hate you?" Myles chuckled. "Tired?" He asked immediately.

We were just on the third floor. I shook my head and he nodded in acknowledgment.

"How should I address her? Ma'am? Mrs. Cameron? Aunty? Myles's mom?"

He chuckled and spun me into the flexible dance move. When he was a step ahead of me, his hands hooked around my thighs and pulled me over his back.

It was sudden. I was quick to wrap my arms around his shoulders.

"You are tired." He declared instead.

Nothing matters anymore after the overpowering comfort he gave me. I lean on his back, eyes closed and a smile pulling on my lips until he knocks on the door.

Panicked at the thought of meeting his mother for the first time and being in that position got me kicking his thigh with my foot.

"Down now."

He groaned theatrically and dropped me.

"Do you have to kick me?"

"Do you have to knock with me on your back? I must come off as polished, responsible, and mature." I retorted and he chortled. "I am serious." I frowned and he surrendered his hands.

"God, you're a wreck. You're rosy. Let me help. I might have a remedy." He muttered huskily and held my nape. His face that was made with those deep red lips was nearing mine. I focused on him until his lips were on mine. I exhaled a breath I didn't know I was holding then.

But just when ease washed inside me, a woman cleared her throat.

"Great." I weakly let out in Myles's smiling lips.

Turning right now was the hardest thing I've ever experienced. The woman had to call my name.

She knew my name? How great. And now she's going to put a whore face to the name.

My eyes widened at Myles and he brought his arm to my waist, supporting me when I came face to face with the woman he called mom.

She was everything opposite of what Myles looked like physically. And she was young. She might be in her thirties. But she appeared nice and welcoming just as he was.

"Oh my goodness, I knew you were beautiful."

My teeth sank into my bottom lip. Maybe not a whore face then.

"Hi, Myles's mom."

She laughed lightly, at the same time Myles snickered.

If not this was that moment when I had to be on my best behavior, I would have kicked him, probably in the ass.

"Call me Halen, please."

I smiled softly and she pulled me inside by the wrist.

Halen lives in a contemporary studio. It was small and tidy. She served us dessert and smoothies and turned off the TV when she joined us in her living area.

She was cordial. I was told she was aware of our visit. She said something about talking about me with Myles some weeks ago. She knew I was Brayden's sister and was hoping he would be easy to be convinced when we were ready.

"It's better you confront that problem soon. By letting it grow, you're just evolving a much larger problem for yourselves. I do not want that for you kids. Myles has been through a lot."

At her last sentence, Myles became uncomfortable. He actually fidgets in his seat.

My eyes had moved over to him, and my lips parted. I felt stress on my forehead. He looked away from me, his throat shifting.

Okay!

"Your place is nice. I like the environment." I changed the subject when I took my eyes back to the woman.

Helen's face brightens.

"Oh, Myles, you have to show her around." She told her less tense son. He smiled a little and nodded immediately. I wonder what he was afraid of. I wonder what she meant. But it was his secret just as I had mine to hide.

The rest of the time we talked about my stay in Venice, Myles's finals, and my first time in New York. When I brought up our dinner, Myles even blushed.

We left Helen's place around four, stopping around for a brief tour, and some fan pictures. Then we stopped for the best Ramen on a bench, in an outdoor lounging area. And a cup of boba while we browse through the Japanese village plaza. It was authentically beautiful, I get to try different street food, snap pictures, and get some souvenirs.

"You should drive." Myles offered when we got to his McLaren. He was holding my things with one hand and the key with his free one.

The car was very good, and tempting. But there was no way I would be able to drive it.

All I saw was light. A very brilliant one that blinds my vision. I shook my head. My breathing had become irregular then. I fought back the tears but they still flooded my eyes.

"Hey?" Myles sounded frightened.

Great. Now I would scare him away.

There was no place to hide. I pulled the passenger door and scrambled in. Wiping my face with the huge sleeves of the shirt, given Myles was still standing out there, probably taken aback by my psycho reaction.

I must explain my attitude.

He joined me after almost a minute of standing still out there. He sat in the awkward quiet, staring through the windshield.

"That was stupid, I am sorry..." "If I said something that hurt you, I am sorry, Cali."

We poured out simultaneously. Myles adjusted his sitting position and faced me.

"I am sorry." He repeated even when I had heard him the first time.

"Me too."

He smiled sadly and held up my boba. I collect and wipe the embarrassing snot running from my nose.

"Come here." He opened his arms and I crawled in without hesitation, climbing onto his lap. Needing his warmth to flush away those dark awakened memories I was recollecting. He was huge. I balled myself against his chest. And after some comforting minutes had passed, my breathing and heartbeat calmed down. I switched back to my seat, but my legs remained on Myles's lap when he took the wheel and drove off.

The radio was playing some pop songs I had never heard but were good. While I watched the building passing away, my eyes gradually closed to the pleasure of Myles's hand massaging my calves. I basked in the trace of his touch, the scent in the air that was his, and most importantly, present, as he was there with me.