Troy And Athena (Forbidden Love Series Book 15)

The next two days went by amidst lots of enjoyment and it was the night before their wedding. Troy and Athena sat with one another at their backyard, beside the fountain, listening to the soft sound of the cascading water. The whole area was lighted up by the moonlight and the streetlights beyond. Dinner was over and most of their guests had retired to their rooms for the night. Troy was restless and couldn't sleep and neither could Athena. 

"I'm too excited to sleep. Let's spend the night here or you can creep up to my room, love, " said Troy, holding her hand. Athena laughed.

"If I spend the night here, I'll look like a zombie bride tomorrow, " she giggled. Troy too laughed.

"Hmm and maybe you'll sleep like a log on our wedding night," said Troy with a groan. 

"But we would need to sleep a lot on our wedding night, otherwise we'll not survive a 16 hour long flight to Greece," said Athena. The morning after their wedding night they would fly to Athens for a week-long honeymoon. Athena was excited to see the city that she was named after. Troy had already visited the place he was named after with his parents. 

"I wonder why my parents named me after a Greek Goddess or maybe a Greek city. I wish I could have asked them, " said Athena with a sigh.

"Maybe they had conceived you in Athens? My parents were in Greece when they conceived me. They wanted a Greek mythological name with the letters T and R, matching with my dad's name. So they named me Troy," said Troy with a smile. Athena smiled too at his explanation. It made sense.

"My parents never visited Greece but my mom was a professor of history. She had completed her doctorate in European history, " said Athena. Troy nodded.

"Maybe she was obsessed with Greek history," suggested Troy. Athena shrugged.

"Maybe, " she said. "Will we name our children too after Greek Gods and Goddesses?" She asked. 

"If you want to. I want my daughter to be called Cybele," said Troy.

"Ajax, if we have a son," added Athena. Troy smiled and squeezed her hand in agreement. 

"Have you completed your packing? You won't get any time tomorrow. We would have to go to the resort early in the morning. We'll go to our own apartment for our wedding night and then fly out the next morning," said Troy. 

"Yeah, everything's packed. Don't worry," she told him. 

"Good coz I won't leave you tomorrow night to do packing. It's our wedding night and we'll make it special. I have it all planned, " he said excitedly, his eyes glittering like diamonds. Athena's interest was piqued. What could he have planned?

"What have you planned for tomorrow?" She asked with curiosity. Troy chuckled.

"Let it be a surprise, " he said with a smirk. "Now give me a quick kiss. Mom might hunt the place down for you any minute," said Troy with a grin. Athena knew that it was quite possible since his mom had explained to Troy specifically that she would be sleeping in the room next to his parents tonight. Athena kissed him passionately, showing him how much she loved him. 

As he broke the kiss and looked into her eyes, his hands went to his pocket and he brought out a pendant. It was a beautiful platinum pendant encrusted with diamonds with her granny's picture engraved over it. It was the most beautiful gift she had ever received. "I had this made especially for you. It's your wedding gift. Do you like it?" Asked Troy. Athena had tears in her eyes as she stared and gasped at the thoughtful gift that he had given her. Her fingers brushed over granny's picture and she looked up at Troy with tears of happiness in her eyes.

"It's priceless and precious, Troy. Just like you are to me," she said softly. Troy took the pendant and clasped it around her neck. "I want you to wear it always," he told her. Athena had created a painting of them, her sole masterpiece. Troy had loved it and had it framed. He considered it as a wedding gift from her.

They parted reluctantly as it was already late. Troy went up to his room while Athena went to the room assigned to her. Tomorrow was her big day and she wished her parents and grandparents were alive to bless her. She touched the pendant that Troy had given her. The pendant made her feel as if she wasn't alone. Her granny was with her always.

The next morning was the most hectic day of her life. Since morning everyone was one mad rush to get their wedding dresses and accessories and rush to the venue. Troy drove Athena, his mom and a few of his cousins who volunteered to get Athena ready, to the venue. His dad drove some of them and arranged the others to be driven by their chauffeurs. Laurence, who was Troy's best man, would directly reach the venue with his family. His other friends were his groomsmen and they all would reach on their own. Arianna was Athena's matron of honor while the wives of Troy's other friends volunteered to be her bridesmaids. The last two weeks, all of them had regularly visited Athena and Troy to practice everything to perfection and had bonded with one another in the process. 

In twenty-five minutes, Troy drove northwest of the Las Vegas Strip to the international golf destination which was their venue. Athena gasped seeing the scenic beauty of the place. She had never been to a golf course before. The peaceful and rich natural rolling beauty of the Sheep and Spring Mountains married with lush greens and sparkling lakes of the golf resort serve as the perfect backdrop for a wedding. 

"Do you like the venue?" Asked Troy's mom, smiling at her. 

"Yes, mom. I love it. Thank you so much," said Athena, feeling overwhelmed. 

"Don't thank me sweetie. You're the daughter I never had," said Sally Wagner, giving her a hug. "Now, where's that Brandon? Who'll walk you down the aisle now?" She asked, seeing the others arrive. Brandon and his family arrived at the venue with Camilla five minutes later much to Athena's relief. 

"C'mon, let's get you ready, " said Arianna. She and the bridesmaids whisked Athena away to the bridal room where she would get ready with her bridal party. The next two hours they were all too busy getting ready. Athena walked out of the room, looking gorgeous in her wedding dress towards Brandon who stood at the doorway for her. 

"Wow, Athens. You look like a lady today," said Brandon, holding out his arm for her. Athena giggled hearing his praise, taking his arm.

"I always look like a lady, silly," she corrected him as he led her towards the venue. "You don't look bad either, " she added. Like all the other groomsmen, he was wearing an off white tux and looked quite dashing in fact. 

"Why? Are you falling for me now?" He joked. Athena rolled her eyes at him and they walked towards the beautifully decorated wedding arch overlooking the lake amidst lots of greenery all around. The whole place was decorated with white flowers interspersed with pink and fuchsia peonies and roses. Silver metal streamers were hung to give a lustrous effect. The white paved aisle was lined with the same white and pink floral combinations just like Athena's bridal bouquet. 

"I wish I could get married in a place like this," said Brandon. 

"You can, Brand. I'll speak to Troy about it. First get your girl to agree, " said Athena. 

"She has, " said Brandon with a chuckle. Athena gaped at him.

"Really?" She asked with disbelief. Brandon grinned, looking very happy like a little child who had just received his first birthday gift. 

"Yes," he said. Athena laughed.

"Congrats, bestie. Can't wait to attend your wedding," she gushed. 

Her glance then fell upon Troy, looking at her with open admiration in his eyes. Their eyes met and time stood still for them as Athena forgot everything but Troy, the love of her life. He looked so gorgeous and special more than words could describe wearing a navy blue tux. He smiled at her and her heart skipped a beat. She couldn't believe that she was lucky enough to find someone as precious as he was. 

She smiled back and Troy felt his heartbeats accelerating. He couldn't wait to be united in holy matrimony with the beautiful woman of his dreams, looking ethereal and heavenly in her off-shoulder, mermaid gown. He could see the shine of the pendant around her neck and felt happy that she had loved it so much. 

The music started and after the bridesmaids and groomsmen, Brandon led her down the aisle to give her away to the man who would cherish her for the rest of her life. His duty as a best friend was done for the time being!