I stared out the glass windows. I loved doing it when it was cloudy. Usually, any building that I stayed in was at the top, meaning we would be above the clouds. It felt like I was in the sky, floating with no thought on my mind. Weird enough, something comforted me about not being able to see the ground.

"No one knows we're here." Tobias sighed. "You can't let anyone know the address. Not even Kelsey, I trust her but no one needs to know."

"I know. She's back in L.A anyway." I sighed. "I really appreciate you helping me."

"Of course." He sat down next to me on the couch."Sometimes I wish I would jump off this balcony and into the clouds."

I gave him a crazy look.

"Not to cause harm to me, but it looks comfortable. I wish I could sit on them and look at the sky."

"Same." I smiled. "Wouldn't that be amazing?"

He chuckled. The slight breeze made his hair move out of place.

"I know you don't want to talk about this, but it's eating me up. Sorry isn't enough and I know that. I admit that I was wrong." I started.

"Athena-"

"Please. I know I told you to show me that you care for me and when you did, I let you down. I understand your anger with me. You showed me a vulnerable side of you that no one has seen and I took advantage of it." I shook my head. "I'm sorry, not because I got caught, but for letting you down."

He stared at me, those icy blue eyes. He reached out his arm and I smiled before snuggling into his embrace.

"How are you?" He questioned. "I'm sorry too. You suffered an attack and had no one to comfort you. So how are you?"

"You don't have to apologize, trust me. I feel like I've been through a rude awakening."

"How so?"

I remained silent for a second to take in his scent. He smelt amazing and he felt so warm.

"I just know who cares for me and who doesn't. It's been clear signs before, but my dad showed who he truly was. He stared at me, in horrific pain and didn't do anything to help me." I scoffed.

I sighed.

"But even when you were angry with me, you showed your support." I started at the clouds. "I always thought that caring for someone or loving someone meant doing something for someone, but it's the little things that count."

Tobias softly smiled.

"You're like my best friend, don't tell Kelsey."

"Lips sealed."

Although I wanted something more, I knew it was superficial. Being in his arms, I felt the safest. It took the stress away from my mind, the constant fear that something was going to happen went away.

I just wanted him and all of him.

"Grubhub?" I questioned.

"I'm about to run to the store for groceries. Meal on me tonight."

"Perfect."

~

"I understand that I need to be on the low, but how long Anteros? I can't put my life on hold" I questioned while pacing back and forth.

Tobias' second penthouse was amazing, but it had no life. No paintings on the wall. Just rooms with beds and couches.

I felt dull.

"I don't know Athena. Give it a week, okay? If you decide to go out, keep security with you and never go unattended. I'll get more information, be safe."

"What about Bia? Will she be okay?"

"I hired security just to stand by."

"Okay, good. Just let me know if you find out something, okay?"

"Of course."

I hung up the phone and placed it on the counter. I took a sip of my wine and sighed.

"I got you something." Tobias smiled.

"What did you get me?"

"Check the living room."

I placed down the glass and walked towards the living room. An easel sat with paints surrounding it. I squealed while jumping up and down.

"I think you cured my boredom."

"Glad to hear it. I'll get started on dinner while you paint away."

Kaleb hasn't been able to cook for us. We trusted him, of course, but security was our main issue. Kaleb didn't have security around him twenty-four-seven or the services to watch out for if he was being followed. I missed his cooking, but Tobias' was just as good.

I unpacked the paints and brushes and started working on my piece. By the time I was merely finished, Tobias was done with dinner.

I happily walked into the kitchen.

"What's on the menu chef?"

"Chicken stuffed Parmesan with asparagus."

"Sounds delicious."

I sat down at the island. He placed down our plates and sat next to me.

"This is weird." I started.

"What's weird?"

"This whole thing. Like us being in a new place. It being just us. I don't know."I shook my head. "I just feel like I'm in another universe right now."

"Strangely enough, I know what you mean."

"I talked to Anteros today."

"Yeah? What did he say?"

"He's getting information. Did I tell you how Eros visited me the other day?"

"He did? What did he say?"

"Just him, being him."

"I seriously don't know why he's treating you this way, he's usually the nice guy."

"Weird." I shook my head.

I took a bite of chicken and smiled.

"It's so good." I nodded. "I was about to moan, but that would've been extreme."

"You like it fr?"

I nodded. "It's so good. You might be in the wrong field."

Tobias laughed. "I'm glad you enjoy it."

"You need to teach me how to cook."

"Yeah, those cupcakes you made were trash."

"Stop. I tried." I shook my head. "Why am I so incapable of cooking. Like cupcakes were supposed to be simple."

"Let me teach you."

"Can we make them now? Like after we finish eating. Now I'm really in the mood for them." I questioned. "Please. Please. Please."

"Fine."

"Yay!"

We finished eating our food and after cleaning up, we started on the cupcakes.

"It's a teaspoon of baking soda? I put two tablespoons in the other ones." I furrowed my eyebrows.

"That makes a lot of sense."

"Hey!" I said while dumping it with the flour.

"A tablespoon is excessive."

"So. Who taught you how to cook like this?"

"Another one of my hobbies. I was obsessed with Gordon Ramsay and watching the food networks." Tobias smiled.

"I could see you like Gordon Ramsay."

"You think I'm that mean?"

"No. Of course not, but you get passionate about things you like. Passion can get mistaken for anger."

"So I'm mean."

"No. I have a question."

"What's up?"

"We always talk about my first impression of you, what was your first impression of me?"

"In all honesty?"

I nodded. "Yeah, but don't hurt my feelings. I'm sensitive."

"I didn't like you. I thought you were immature, irresponsible, and annoying."

"Ouch."

"But. You proved me wrong." He placed the raining batter on his finger before placing it on my nose.

I chuckled. "If I'm being honest, a lot of that was true."

"And me being mean was true. I guess we brought out a different side in each other." Tobias said.

I wiped the batter off my nose and onto my pants.

"When you said that I showed you a vulnerable side, it resonated with me. I feel like often, I have to present myself as stone cold. To my parents, to Lauren, to everyone I've known. No one told me that it was okay to show compassion but you." He placed the bowl in the sink.

I smiled to myself before sitting down in a chair.

"Look at you, getting all sentimental."

"I hate it." He laughed.

"I love it."