Troy And Athena (Forbidden Love Series Book 15)

Her granny was awake and looked much better. "How are you feeling, granny?" Athena asked, kissing her cheek.

"Much better dear. I hate staying here. The doctor said that since I'm stable, I could go home," said her granny. Athena nodded.

"Yes, I'll talk to the doctor and complete the formalities quickly," she told her granny. Right then, Troy walked into the room with a smile on his face. 

"Good morning, granny!" He greeted her cheerfully. "I had a word with Doctor Andrews. He has released you. I've asked them to prepare the discharge papers," said Troy. 

"That's great. I'll go downstairs and settle the dues right away," said Athena, rushing towards the door but Troy caught her arm to stop her. 

"Why don't you help the nurse get granny ready? Give them some time to prepare the papers," he told her. Athena nodded and just as Troy went outside, she and the nurse made granny change and got ready to be discharged. 

However, after some time, Troy came to fetch them. "C'mon granny, time to go home, " he said, helping granny to her feet. Athena looked at him with surprise. 

"Wait! How can we go home without settling the dues?" She asked, hurrying towards the door again only to be caught by Troy. 

"I've settled the bills. Let's go," he told her. Athena refused to budge.

"You shouldn't have, Troy. I'm quite capable of taking care of my granny," she said, looking upset. Troy noticed granny's tired face and the curious expression of the nurse who couldn't fathom his relationship with Athena. Knowing Athena's stubbornness, he had to get her out of here and soon.

"You can pay me later. Let's go," he said, leading granny slowly to her wheelchair. Although granny could walk slowly, they didn't want to take any risk with her. 

The ride home was quiet with only granny doing most of the talking. She described the horrible and bland food of the hospital. "I realized how good my Athena cooks. I missed your cooking, sweetie, " she told her.

"Only my cooking, granny?" Chuckled Athena. 

"At least I missed your cooking. I'm sure you both haven't even missed me one bit, " chuckled granny. Athena's face, ears, neck, everything flushed red at that statement. She couldn't even glance at Troy out of embarrassment. How did granny know what they were up to? Troy chuckled. 

"Hats off to you, granny," he just said. The rest of the ride her granny just watched them with a smug expression on her face as different ideas hatched in her head. 

They rushed home at last and Athena realized that she had left her clothes in Troy's apartment. She would ask him to get them next time he came for his classes. Troy dropped them and went to Laurence's house. 

"What about learning to cook?" Asked granny with a chuckle.

"I'm coming back here. Did you think that I'm going home?" He asked with a chuckle. Granny chuckled too while Athena rolled her eyes. What was there to chuckle about? She was dead tired and could just eat milk and cereal and sleep. Granny was taking a nap from sheer exhaustion and she didn't disturb her.

Afterwards she went into the kitchen and realized how hungry she was. She had skipped her coffee and breakfast in the morning in her haste and now felt like she could eat anything she could get her hands on. She quickly fixed herself a chicken sandwich and made some coffee. Granny had her breakfast at the hospital and wasn't hungry at all. She found herself thinking of Troy. Did he eat anything at Laurence's house? It was strange that she couldn't help thinking about him before eating her food. Just then the doorbell rang and she already knew who it was. She opened the door to a smiling Troy. 

"I'm back. Did you eat breakfast without me? I'm ravenous. I could eat you if you don't give me anything," he winked. Athena looked at him with horror! Did he not have any filter to his mouth? Her cheeks colored profusely and she turned away from his hot gaze that was pinned upon her. 

"No, I was about to eat when you rang the doorbell," she told him, walking towards the kitchen, trying to ignore the rest of his comment. 

"Good, good, let's share it then," he said, closing the door. Sandra had gone to the departmental store and he was so hungry that he couldn't wait for her to return. Athena pushed the plate of sandwich towards him along with the coffee. 

"Start, I'll make some more," she told him. He got up and caught her chin with one hand and fed her a bite of the sandwich first. 

"We'll share this while you make more. I know you're hungry, Athena. I'm sorry that I couldn't offer you anything at home. I can't cook. I'm scared of going into the kitchen," he told her, apologetically. Athena was touched by his thoughtfulness. He was so different from Brandon. If she had given Brandon her sandwich, he would have gobbled it up and asked for more without thinking that she might be hungry too. 

"I know that you can't cook. It wasn't your fault at all. We had to leave early for the hospital," she comforted him.

He ate a bite and fed her another while she fixed more sandwiches for themselves. She made more coffee and they sat down at the breakfast table to eat. 

"I can see why granny loves your cooking. You're really good. I can't wait for the day when you'll marry me and cook for me everyday, " he said, closing his eyes and munching away. Athena stared at him. When did that come into the picture? He had only asked her to be his girlfriend for a month and if she liked it, then she could think about it later. 

Troy opened his eyes to see her gaping at him. "What? Are you developing wifey feelings for me?" He asked. Athena looked away. God! He was impossible!

"Not at all. I'm just shocked at the bombshells that you keep throwing at me every now and then, " she told him. Troy chuckled. 

"They aren't bombshells, my Goddess of War. They're subtle  reminders that we're meant for one another. That I'll marry you by hook or by crook. I'll steal you away from Brandon, from right under his nose and he wouldn't be able to do a thing, " he continued. 

"Okay, okay, stop. You're embarrassing me. Let us talk about the hospital dues, " she told him and he groaned. Couldn't she forget it for God's sake? "So how much do I owe you? Please give me your bank details so that I can transfer the money," she told him.

"Oh, actually, I'm suddenly suffering from a short time memory loss. So, I don't know what you're really talking about," he said, grinning, his naughty dimples looking too attractive that she couldn't throttle him even if she wanted to. 

"Then, give me back my food," she said, getting up and going towards him to take his plate away. 

He caught her hand instead and pulled her onto his lap, his arm going around her waist and clamping her to his body, her back against his chest. She gasped with shock as she felt his hot breath on her neck. 

"There are other ways to pay it off, Athena, " he whispered into her ear, his mouth brushing against her ear lobe.

"Please Troy. I can't do this. I'm engaged and this is wrong, " she whispered back, closing her eyes at the torture. 

"Break off your engagement. Then it wouldn't be wrong any more," he coaxed. Athena shook her head and tried to escape. 

"I can't, " she said in an agonized tone. 

"Then what else can be done? Pay me off by giving me more art classes or cookery classes," he shrugged with disappointment. "I don't care if you feel it's wrong. Brandon's the wrong guy for you. Unless and until you realize that, I'll continue what I'm doing," he stated with determination, releasing her. Athena got up and carried her cup and plate to the kitchen to rinse. Troy joined her too.

"So, when are you making lunch? I think I'll start learning from today," said Troy. However, he received a phone call shortly after and had to rush off.

"I need to go. Mom fell down and hurt herself, " he informed and rushed towards the door. After he left, it seemed as if a tornado had blown all over her. His words, his actions, his bombshells, everything kept on replaying in Athena's head and she found herself going crazy. 

One thing she realized and it was that Brandon indeed was the wrong guy for her. Yet she didn't have the strength in her to break his heart. She couldn't break off the engagement and hurt him. She needed to talk to him face to face first. It wasn't something that could be done over the phone but with him gone for a month, there wasn't much probability that she would meet him anytime soon.