Temptation (The Hunted, #1)(71)

"What did Tyler say to you?"

"I hurt him, Melissa. He hates me."

"I'm sorry, Penny."

Things with Professor Hunter were great, but I had lost one of my closest friends in the process. Even though I had told Tyler I only wanted to be friends, I had lied to him about the reason why. And then I almost jumped into bed with Tyler as soon as there was a glitch in my relationship with Professor Hunter. What is wrong with me?

As if hearing my question to myself, Melissa said, "Okay I have to ask. What is going on with you? Dating two guys at once is really not like you."

"No, it's not at all. I guess I was going back and forth in my head just because I was mad at James. I've never had such an instant connection with anyone before. It's really hard to explain."

"When we went through the pro con list between James and Tyler, Tyler clearly won. But I could tell that you wanted to be with James. I get it. Either there's that connection or there isn't."

I nodded.

"There's one thing I'm still confused about, though. Why didn't you just tell Tyler you were seeing someone else right away? Were you worried you were going to hurt his feelings?"

On paper, Tyler had won. Why hadn't I just told him I was seeing someone, without saying it was Professor Hunter? Because I told Melissa that I was dating someone else. It was because I knew I could see myself with Tyler too. I really could. I had been keeping him as a backup plan. I was an awful person.

"I never really believed James could possibly like someone like me. I thought our relationship was doomed from the start. I think I wanted Tyler to like me. Because I knew he would be great to date too. Please don't think less of me. Tyler was my backup plan."

Melissa laughed. "Everyone has a backup, Penny. I don't think anyone has ever made Tyler a backup before though, because he is damn sexy." She paused. "Sorry."

I looked down at my food. "Do you think he'll ever want to be my friend again?"

"Penny, I don't really think men and women can be friends. I already told the two of you this when you were both pretending to be friends. Someone always wants more, and in this case you both wanted more. Unless Tyler is gay. If he's gay, you guys can be friends."

"He's definitely not gay."

"Then you were never just friends and never can be just friends. Besides, if you ever wanted to get serious with James, he would probably get jealous if you were friends with another guy."

Professor Hunter was jealous. He had asked me on our first date not to see Tyler anymore. Melissa was so good at stuff like this. I should have been talking to her about everything from the start.

"Okay, so what happened with your speech today then? You said you were mad?"

It was time to tell her now. I swallowed hard. "Remember when I slept over James' apartment last week?"

Melissa nodded.

"When I woke up I wanted to change into clean clothes." I tried not to blush. I had actually been naked and needed something to wear. "So I borrowed a shirt from one of his drawers and I found his wedding ring."

Melissa stared at me. I thought she was waiting for me to say just kidding or something. When I didn't, she said, "What an asshole. Oh my God! And I convinced you to try and work things out with him? Why didn't you tell me, Penny?!"

"I was embarrassed. I was so mortified. I felt like it was partially my fault and I felt so guilty. But your advice was actually good. Because when I talked to him on Saturday I found out that he had left his wife. He filed for divorce last year."

"So they're divorced? Well that's a relief, you little home-wrecker." Melissa smiled.

My stomach knotted. "The divorce isn't official yet. Apparently she won't sign the papers."

Melissa scrunched her mouth to the side. I could tell that she still thought Professor Hunter was sleazy. She definitely didn't approve. But she didn't know how sincere he was when he talked to me. He didn't love his soon to be ex-wife.

"Are you sure he's telling you the truth?" she asked.

"Well, that brings me to this morning. It really seemed like he was, but I wanted to look it up to make sure. And I found an interview with his wife saying that everything was fine between them. So I freaked out."

"You need to learn how to control your temper, Penny. I get being upset, but ruining your Comm speech because of it? You probably failed."

"It would have been easy to get over before my speech if I didn't have to see him while I was giving it."

"I thought you said he wasn't in your class?"

"He isn't exactly." I took a deep breath. "He teaches it. James is the guy from the coffee shop. He's Professor Hunter."

Melissa laughed. "Right, like you'd date a professor."

I stared back at her.

Melissa's jaw dropped. "You're shitting me, Penny?"

"Ever since meeting him in the coffee shop I couldn't stop thinking about him. And seeing him in class three times a week made it impossible to get over him."

Melissa just stared at me.

"I wanted to tell you right away, but if anyone found out, we might get in trouble. And he came over today after my meltdown in class. He promised me that he was telling the truth about his wife. And I believe him. If you could have seen how upset he was that I was mad at him... He would never hurt me." I knew I was rambling but Melissa was still just staring at me. "He asked me to be his girlfriend. And I said yes. I know it probably sounds crazy, but I want to be with him. Melissa, please say something."