Learning to Love

Chapter Four

JULIAN

I was waiting at the cold stone. Sitting in one of those four sitter booths and checking my watch nervously.

What if he didn't come? I asked myself then frowned. This would be so much easier if I had my phone. There's no way Zeus could call me now, my phone was history, but somehow I felt he'll still come just for the sake of it; just like me.

I checked my watch for maybe the hundredth time before ordering a coffee and mint mix. Don't judge me these flavors are like the essence of life.

"I'm not stalling."

I murmured to myself licking the ice-cream of the spoon. I had my design templates with me so it was not as if I had nothing to do. Okay, maybe I was stalling just a little. I blushed. But, if he didn't come—although, I hoped he would—I won't hold it against him. I checked my watch after a few minutes.

"Ten minutes to seven," I sighed. He was meant to have been here by six. Didn't he want to see me? Was he just bluffing? I wondered, suddenly feeling stupid for even coming.

"So, I guess he isn't coming," I sighed to myself spinning the spoon absently in the empty paper cup. I scanned the whole ice-cream place with my eyes just in case. Okay, I'm finally losing it. I thought, gathering the design templates on the table. No matter how this guy got to me I am not about to become a fawning puppy.

"Julian?"

I heard someone say. Okay, I heard Zeus say, but I was probably imagining things. Okay, just a look. I thought, looking around the room my gaze fell casually on a confused looking Zeus who was looking around. He looked so cute with his green eyes, and dark long hair was done up in a French braid. How long was it? That hair of his—

"Zeus!" I said. I fidget a bit with too much excitement. I watched his eyes widened in confusion as he turned his head about, then sudden relief as his gaze fell on me. I smiled. He was grinning, he looks nice grinning.

"I'm so sorry. I had some business to take care of," Zeus apologized as he reached the table.

"It's okay," I said, smiling. It was okay at least he was here, right?

"No, it's not okay. I mean, considering it's about seven now," he said, giving me a sincere smile. I blushed. Why did he have to make it seem like I was desperate to see him? I was already aware of that, he didn't have to rub it in like that.

He sat down at the other end of the away from my templates. I followed suit and took my sit the other side.

"I couldn't call you. Your home line was out of service and did something happen to your actual phone?" he asked and I stiffened on my sit. I loosened up but I guess he noticed because he was staring at me with concerned eyes.

"What happened to your phone?" he asked in a concerned voice.

"Nothing," I lied, and blushed. It felt weird lying to Zeus, but it was going to be embarrassing to talk about it.

"Does it have to do with your wife?" he asked, looking straight at me. His green eyes soon got filled with worry. No one has ever looked at me like that before. I thought, feeling my cheeks warm up.

"Yeah..." I sort of whispered.

"Oh," Zeus sighed and closed his eyes.

"I have to be home by eight," I said looking out the window beside the booth, at the darkening sky. Zeus frowned then sighed rubbing his forehead.

"So we have about an hour to get to know each other," Zeus said smiling. He suddenly reached out for my hand on the table and took it in his. His hands were bigger compared to mine. I couldn't stop thinking about how well my hand fit in his. I think butterflies did a happy dance in my stomach.

I loved his fingers. They were long, lean and perfectly wrapped over my palm. I looked up at him blushing. How could someone's eyes be so green? Perfect. I loved his hair. I loved how unnaturally long it was. My eyes scanned his perfectly sculptured face to his nice lean, not too broad chest. Was he hairy did he have sideburns? I thought still staring at his clothed chest. My eyes squinted trying to look closely and I gasped in surprise.

"What?" Zeus asked, c*****g his head to the side.

"Freckles. You have freckles," I cooed. I blushed a bit. Why was this discovery exciting to me? Zeus looked at me a bit confused then looked down at his exposed chest

"Oh," he said before shrugging.

"I can't get rid of them..." he trailed, looking away from me. Was he feeling self-conscious? What was embarrassing about having freckles?

"I like them," I whispered loud enough for him to hear. That was the truth I really liked them. He hesitated before looking up at me, His face hinting a light blush. I'd never seen him blush before it was—I don't know—perfect?

"You're not just saying that are you?" he asked seriously

"I'm not just saying anything. I really do like them," I said, looking up at him.

"Um. I also have them behind my arms," he blurted out. Still flushed in the face, he rolled up his sleeves and turned his arms around. I gasped. He had light freckles scattered behind his arms. I reached out for his left hand then paused, alarmed at my impulsive behavior. I wanted to touch them—feel them beneath my fingertips. I needed to touch them. I blushed. What would he think of me if I asked?

"Um, can—can I touch them?" I managed to ask blushing. I watched as his eyes widened, then he smiled.

"Sure," Zeus said stretching his left hand out to me. I hesitated before placing two fingers on his arm. God, I think I had a heart attack. His arm was so unbelievably soft. I heard Zeus groan something under his breath. I couldn't help looking up at his face. He had his eyes closed and his mouth parted. I looked down at his arm. I loved how soft it was how the pulse suddenly increased when he groaned. Looking back up at him and blushed. I really loved how silk and soft his hair looked—his hair. It was so unnaturally long—I want to touch him. God, why couldn't I keep my hands off him?

I moved my attention back to his arm, moving my fingers over the freckle pattern. I heard him groan again and I blushed.

"Can, can I touch your hair?" I just had to ask. I had been staring at it since forever. I wonder what it'll feel like between my fingers.

He nodded. His eyes were still closed. Okay, back to more important issues... He said yes. He had really said yes. I reached out my right arm touching his cheek and watched as his lips parted. He grunted and leaned into it. Gosh, why was I feeling so happy about it? I guess I just did. I passed my hand over my scalp, careful not to undo his braid. He couldn't be American; his hair was just damn too long—too soft.

"Are you French?" I asked, shuddering. His eyes parted open, his pupils now slit. Did I make them that way? I thought, blushing.

"No. I'm Greek," he said, placing a hand over my hand that was resting on his cheek. Zeus closed his eyes, humming. I widened my eyes in surprise. I loved the sound of him humming.

"What are you humming?" I curiously asked. Zeus' eyes suddenly opened wide.

"Trust me you don't want to know," he said and winked. Why did he wink?

"Oh, fine then," I said, feeling uneasy.

"Where did you grow up?" Zeus asked all of a sudden

"Here in L.A," I answered

"What of you?" I asked, curious. He frowned a little before sighing

"I spent my childhood in Greece, and then I stayed a bit in France then came here," Zeus answered taking my hand of his cheek but still holding on to it. I farrowed my brows in confusion.

"People are staring," he bluntly stated; caressing my knuckles.

"How did you meet your wife?" he asked my face turning into a bedsheet. Why was he asking about that?

"In high school," I said in a dismissive tone. I didn't want to talk about this. Why did he want to talk about this? I could feel tears pricking my eyes. No Julian, you are not going to cry over a question. God, why did I want to cry?

"What's wrong?" Zeus asked with concern placing his hand on my cheek.

"Nothing," I snapped, leaning into his touch anyway. He looked at me, clearly confused.

"I—I didn't mean to snap at you," I apologized, feeling a bit childish for the way I had behaved.

"It's okay," he said caressing my cheek. I blushed. I loved how he was making me feel. I looked up at Zeus briefly. He was so wonderful—so beautiful. How could someone like him not be in a relationship? Wait, I had never actually asked Zeus about that. What if he had someone? The thought alone made me want to cry again. Why did I want to cry?

"Do you... do you um, have anyone special to you?" I asked not really wanting to know. His slow strokes he made on my cheek paused for a moment.

"Louis," he mused with affection.

"Augustus," he said as his cheeks took on a hint of color. 

My face fell.

Two people. I thought. He had two people in his life? Did I even mean anything to him...? Julian will you stop it! You just met him!

"Oh," I snapped, prying his hand off my cheek. Why was he even touching me? Zeus stared at me alarmed. I stared at him back, my heart feeling heavy. Why had he led me on? Why did he make me even think about him? Why was he making me feel this way if I meant nothing to him? Why was I being an i***t?

"Louis is my best friend and Augustus... Augustus doesn't even want me," he said. His voice was overwhelmed with sadness. Wait did I hear right? This Augustus person didn't want Zeus. I felt guilty about feeling happy but I was angry at this Augustus person. Why wouldn't he want Zeus, who wouldn't want Zeus?

Wait a minute. I thought, widening my eyes in realizing Augustus was a guy's name.

"You're gay?" I whispered loud enough for him to hear. He corked his head in confusion.

"Of course I am. I thought you knew that," he said earning a blush from me. I guessed it but guessing was a whole lot different from a direct confession. Okay, it's not so direct but you get the point.

"I guessed it, but you know..." I fidgeted, not really knowing what to say. Somehow knowing he was gay made me happy. What am I saying? I could jump over the moon!

"I do know," he said knowingly. Zeus checked his watch before looking back up at me.

"You better get going it's almost eight," he said in a matter of fact tone. Eight, eight what? Oh my God!

"Don't worry I could drive you—"

"No!" I panicked.

"Okay. I could call a cab or you don't want to go in that too?" I sighed in relief ignoring his teasing tone. If Linda saw him dropping me off, she'll never let me see the end of it.

We headed out of the store and I immediately hugged myself. It was so cold, why was the weather being such a b***h?

"Are you cold?" Zeus asked and I nodded frankly.

"Wait here I'll go get my jacket," Zeus said as he jogged to a black BMW by the pavement. What exactly did he do for a living?

"Here," Zeus said, draping a black leather jacket over my shoulders.

"Zeus..." I called, not really knowing why. We hadn't spent so much time together... we had barely spent time together but I felt as if I knew him as If we'd made some sort of connection.

"Yes?" Zeus whispered still hovering over me. I shivered.

"What do you do? Like, work-wise..." I asked. I wasn't buying time, I was just... okay, I was stalling. Are you happy now? I didn't know why I was... Why I didn't want to leave.

"I'm into marketing. What about You?" Zeus asked casually nuzzling my hair. A thin blush made its way to my face. Zeus was sure touchy.

"I studied interior designing and fashion but am not doing anything right now," I answered. Blushing as I felt his node run along my ear.

"Why?" His voice was husky as if he was having a hard time concentrating. My eyes widened. Was I really willing to tell him about Linda? How she practically scared me? And how she insisted on a thing like this? How she insisted that I didn't work to limit the chance of me leaving her? No, I couldn't. I couldn't tell Zeus about a thing like that.

"Nothing really," I lied. I heard Zeus sigh and blushed, realizing he wasn't buying it.

"Your cab is here," Zeus said stroking my hair. How hid his hand get there? It's not as if I mind. It feels so good. I thought, closing my eyes.

"See you later," Zeus said, waving as I got into the back seat of the cab.

"Promise we'll do something like this again," I begged stretching my pinkie out the opened door. I don't know why I'm doing this or said that. I just need some sort of reassurance I'll see him again—get to touch him again.

"Sure," he slurred, wrapping his pinkie with mine, winking before closing the door.

"Is anything the matter sir?" I heard the driver say from the front seat. I could see his face through the driving mirror he seemed genuinely concerned.

"Nothing, nothing at all," I said. My grin widened. He was probably wondering why I was grinning like an i***t. My grin widened again when a realization crossed my mind.

I still have his jacket. I thought. Warmth rushed to my cheeks as I snuggled into the warmth of the jacket. I sighed contented it smelled like him

Like Zeus.

What is seriously wrong with me?