Temptation

27

Saturday

My head rose and fell with his breath. I was dreaming about Professor Hunter again; dreaming about being wrapped in his strong arms. I listened to his slow, steady heartbeat. I could lay here forever in his embrace. I let my hand wander beneath his shirt and felt his abs. His body seemed to tense from my touch, which made his muscles even more pronounced. He was so sexy.

"Are you feeling any better?" he whispered.

I almost jumped out of my skin. Tyler. I was with Tyler, not Professor Hunter. We must have fallen asleep watching the movie. I pulled my hand out from under his shirt and sat up.

"You lovebirds must have been exhausted. It's almost noon," Melissa laughed.

Oh my God, Melissa's here? All I wanted to do was disappear back into my dream. I felt my face flushing. "We fell asleep watching a movie," I said quietly. I didn't want to look down at Tyler and I didn't want to make eye contact with Melissa so I just stared at my lap.

"Sure," Melissa said.

I heard Tyler yawn as he sat up beside me. "Good morning, Melissa."

He rubbed his hand on my back. "Penny?"

"Yeah. I do feel better. Thanks, Tyler." I still didn't look at him. What had I done? This was the opposite of what was supposed to happen last night. And why had I just touched his abs? He had really nice abs. What the hell is wrong with me?

"Did you want to get something to eat?" Tyler asked.

"Yes, we'd love to," Melissa answered for me. Her coming to the dining hall with us was going to be a disaster. Everything was a disaster!

Tyler hopped off the bed. "Do you mind if I borrow this?" He lifted up the mouthwash from my dresser.

"No, go ahead." He took a swig and walked out of the room.

"Oh my God, Penny! Spill it."

"Nothing happened." I slid off the bed and quickly changed into jean shorts and a t-shirt. I tried hard not to make eye contact with her.

"I don't believe that for a second. You both slept so long. Like you just had s*x long."

"I was sick."

"Yeah sure. Why aren't you giving me the details? Was he small or something?"

"No!"

"So he's big?"

"Melissa!" I smoothed my hair and pulled it back into a ponytail. "We're just friends."

"He doesn't look at you like you're his friend."

I grabbed my shower caddy and went to the bathroom without hearing what else she had to say. I brushed my teeth and washed my face without looking in the mirror. This was getting out of hand. I needed to find Tyler a girlfriend so that I could stop lying to both him and Melissa. My addiction to Professor Hunter wasn't going anywhere. I was already breaking rules if I was going to date him. I didn't want to have to feel bad about anything else on top of that.

***

"Okay, Tyler," Melissa said as she sat down across from us in the dining hall. "I can't get the truth out of Penny, so I'm going to ask you instead. You guys had wild s*x last night, right?"

"Not wild s*x, no." Tyler laughed.

"But you did have s*x?" Melissa asked. My face was turning scarlet.

"No. We're just friends." He shrugged and smiled at me.

"Ugh, you're both ridiculous."

Tyler laughed again.

"I hate to break it to you, Tyler, but friends don't usually sleep together."

"We didn't sleep together sleep together. We just fell asleep together."

"So, you're trying to tell me that you don't like Penny?" Melissa never backed down easily.

"No, I hate her guts. She's the worst."

"Hey!" I said and nudged his shoulder.

"So, Penny, you're telling me that if you found out Tyler was dating someone you'd be okay with that?" Melissa was staring at me.

Tyler silently took a bite of his bagel.

"Yes. I'd be happy for him."

"Prove it," she replied.

"Wait, what?" Tyler asked.

"Go ask a girl out. There are at least fifty in here right now. I'm sure one of them would say yes. I can point out a few that have definitely checked you out since you've sat down."

"Look, I don't want..."

"See. That's because you like Penny. Boys and girls can't be just friends. It doesn't work. I have homework to do. I will let you two soak in your denial." Melissa left the table.

"Your roommate doesn't like to be wrong," Tyler said once Melissa was out of earshot.

"Tell me about it," I sighed.

Tyler finished his bagel and turned to me. "So is that what you really want? For me to be dating other people?"

"Well we're friends. I want you to be happy."

"Right." He pushed his scrambled eggs around with his fork. "Well I actually have lots of homework I have to get to too. I'm glad you're feeling better." He stood up and grabbed his tray.

"Tyler?"

He walked away without looking back at me.

Saturday

As I got ready for my date with Professor Hunter, I tried not to think about hurting Tyler's feelings. I truly did want him to be happy. And I wasn't the person that could do that for him. He deserved better. I just hoped we could remain friends because he had become one of my closest friends since we had met.

Professor Hunter hadn't told me where we were going, but I assumed we were going out to eat. Fortunately Melissa was out to dinner with Josh, or else I would have had to sneak around and get ready in the bathroom. I put on a strapless, summery dress and added a brown belt above my waist. I strapped on a pair of high heeled sandals and looked at myself in the mirror. I added some red lipstick because I liked to think that it made me look a little older.

My alarm went off, letting me know that it was 8 o'clock. I grabbed my clutch and made my way to the curb behind Sussex where Professor Hunter had dropped me off before. His sleek black car was already waiting there. Before I reached the car Professor Hunter stepped out. He was wearing a perfectly fitted black suit with a white dress shirt underneath and a black tie. Just seeing him made my knees shake.

He walked around the car and opened up the door for me.