8

"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' went 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 off 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 idiot?

"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 bitch?

"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 Idiot. 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?