Troy And Athena (Forbidden Love Series Book 15)

Although Athena wanted to go inside Laurence's house to meet the hot Troy Wagner again, she knew she shouldn't. So controlling her urges, she dejectedly walked towards her own house. However, before she could go inside, Laurence's door opened and Sandra peeped out.

"Athena, could you come down if you're free? Arianna wants to talk to you," said Sandra. Athena's heart started beating faster and faster as she walked towards Laurence's house.

"I'm free now. I'll talk to Arianna, " she told her. Sandra smiled and led Athena inside. She walked inside to see Troy building a Lego castle with Laurence's four year old daughter, Lauren. Both looked so comfortable with one another, laughing at the funny shapes that they were making that Athena could watch their sweet interactions the whole day. Laurence was at the open deck outside, taking a call. 

The moment she walked inside, Troy looked up with surprise. He quickly kept the Lego pieces down, his cheeks coloring a little at being caught enjoying baby stuff. However Athena liked this side of him, the way he could be a child while with one was a quality that was common to both of them. She too loved children and could relate to this. Her mind immediately compared him to Brandon who had clearly mentioned that they would never have any children of their own even if they married. Although it had hurt her immensely but she agreed in the end knowing that there never could be. They didn't have any chemistry together. 

"Hey Athena. I'm glad you came to see me. I just couldn't stop thinking of you," Troy said, getting up from the table and walking up to her, his eyes twinkling with amusement. Athena was immediately brought out of her thoughts. She rolled her eyes hearing his words. 'What an impossible flirt!' She thought but his words brought a faint smile on her lips. So he thought of her! She wondered what he thought. 

"Arianna wanted to talk to me. I just came to see her," she corrected him, her cheeks coloring at his words, ready to make a dash upstairs. 

"Why are you always in a hurry?" He asked, rubbing his chin as if thinking of a reason. 

"I just returned from my school. Granny needs help around the house, " she told him, ready to flee. 

"School? So you're a teacher?" He asked, looking interested. Athena nodded. "Interesting, " he said, his hot gaze stuck on her. 

"Yeah, I teach fine art," she told him. Lauren jumped up and pulled Troy's hands eyeing Athena shyly. 

"That's wonderful. I'd always wanted to learn to paint. Can you teach me?" Asked Troy as Athena's eyes went wide with surprise. 

"I teach only children, " she pointed out, blushing furiously. 

"Uncle Troy, I wanna learn drawing too. Mommy said I could," whispered Lauren. Troy looked at her with interest. So that was the reason why Arianna wanted to talk to Athena. To ask her to teach Lauren painting! He was excited beyond words by the thought. 

"We will both learn cupcake," he said to Lauren. Athena's eyes widened further. She had to get away from this guy. Was he serious? Did he really want to learn painting and drawing? Or was he flirting? Her head reeled with confusion. 

"I'll just check up with Arianna, " she told them, rushing upstairs to escape Troy and his flirting. Troy chuckled and sat down with Lauren to build a castle and a prince. Laurence too returned and joined them, creating a princess for the prince. 

"Your Athena's here it seems," chuckled Laurence. Troy rolled his eyes. 

"Mine? Seriously?" He asked, staring at his prince. After sometime Athena came down with a smile which vanished seeing Troy with a toy figure in his hands. 

"Wow, uncle Troy. You made such a handsome prince!" Gasped Lauren. Troy chuckled.

"This is me, looking for my princess," he said, staring straight at Athena. She looked away thinking of a way to get away from his flirting. Didn't he know that she was engaged? 

Laurence chuckled, shaking his head. "Hey Athena, did you have a talk with Aria? She wants you to teach Lauren drawing, painting. Would you have the time?" He asked her.

Athena nodded. "Yeah, I'm free in the evenings, usually. How many days do you want me to teach her?" Asked Athena with interest. She wanted to remain engaged with something to do so that she could excuse herself from going to Brandon's house. She didn't like it there. Brooke and Jake's public display of affection made her realize how wrong her relationship was with Brandon. They were only meant to be friends. They couldn't be anything else. 

"Everyday 'coz even I want to learn," said Troy. Laurence looked at him with horror. 

"Who'll run your business empire if you spend your time learning to draw?" Laurence asked, looking amused. Troy groaned.

"Don't remind me. I'll figure it out but I need to learn this," said Troy with a shrug. Athena looked from one to the other, her breath stuck in her throat. 

"You can't learn with Lauren. She'll be doing basic level," said Athena. Troy's eyes shone excitedly. 

"Fine then. You can teach me exclusively, " he suggested. Athena's mouth hung open at his words. Laurence chuckled and got up to walk towards the kitchen. 

"Are you serious or what?" She asked him. She couldn't figure him out yet. Was he flirting or was he serious? Troy chuckled. 

"Dead serious. I'll come down to your house to learn, every alternate evening. Okay?" He asked. Athena nodded. She was too confused to do anything else. "Good. Are you free today?" He asked her hopefully. 

"No, my fiancé is coming to take me to his house, " she told him. It was true but she had to tell him that she wasn't available as he might have been thinking. She was engaged.

"Fiancé? Are you engaged or what? Where's your ring?" Asked a worried Troy, picking up her hand to look for her ring. A strange electric current ran down her spine at his touch which made her pull her hand away immediately. What was that? She never felt this way when Brandon caught her hand? 

"I don't wear the ring. It's too tight for me, " she told him. Troy gave her a weird look.

"Tight? Are you sure it's meant for you?" He asked suspiciously. Athena looked embarrassed. How did he know? She had always thought that the ring might have been bought for Sarah. 

"Of course," she said nervously. She had to get away from this guy. He seemed to see through her. 

"Anyway, fiancé or no fiancé, I'll come down," said Troy with determination. Athena looked at his face and knew that he would surely do as he had said. 

"Okay, come at 5 o'clock, " she told him. Troy smiled. 

Laurence came over and it was fixed that she would teach Lauren three days a week in the evenings for an hour. They fixed the other days when she wouldn't be teaching Troy. Having fixed her schedule, she went home but her mind was with Troy. She was too confused by his behavior. 

"Granny, I'm home," she yelled, going up to her room to freshen up. 

"Yes sweetie," replied her granny from her room. 

Afterwards, she went downstairs to granny's room and curled up on her bed with her. 

"Are you not well, granny?" She asked her. Her granny had been suffering from coronary heart disease along with high diabetes. Although treatment was going on yet there were days when she was too ill to even get up from bed. Her granny stroked her hair.

"I'm a little weak today. My sugar level had reached 280 at noon. I had to take my insulin injection myself. I couldn't wait for you to return home," said granny. It had Athena worried. Was it safe to leave granny alone and go to work? 

"I think I'll put in my resignation at the school, granny. I can't leave you alone at home any longer, " she said, feeling extremely guilty. 

"No sweetie. Don't do that. From tomorrow, I'll go to Laurence's house till you return home. I won't stay here alone. Okay? Don't worry so much. Nothing will happen to me," said her granny. 

"I can't help worrying. You're all I have, granny," said Athena. 

"I know but now I want to see you settled soon. I won't live forever sweetie, " said her granny. Athena groaned. This was a topic that she always hated. Although she was engaged, Brandon didn't set any date for their wedding, trying to postpone as much as he could. As for Athena, she wasn't in any hurry to marry him. 

"It will happen when it has to granny. Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you," she told her, trying to stop the topic. 

"Emergencies can happen anytime, Athena. You have to be prepared for it," said her granny. 

"I'm prepared for everything granny. I just can't ask Brandon to marry me just now," said Athena impatiently. 

"I'm not asking you to marry in a haste. I'm only asking you to be prepared. I don't want you to marry Brandon. He might care for you as a friend but he cannot be a good life partner to you," said her granny. 

Athena sighed. She knew her granny was right but she didn't have the confidence and courage to even think of having any relationship with any stranger.