Temptation (The Hunted, #1)(8)
Tyler: "I'm hoping you'll eventually drop the 'apologetic' and I can be normal Tyler again. What is the lovely Penny up to tonight?"
I had just complained about games and I found myself putting the phone down. This is ridiculous! I picked it back up and wrote: "I'm trying to decide on a topic for my speech. Have you chosen yet?" My finger hovered over the send button for a second, but I pressed it.
He would most likely think I was pathetic for answering right away. When my phone didn't buzz after a minute, I knew it would be a while. I put my phone down, hopped off my bed, and found the Comm syllabus on my desk. I looked down at my desk chair. I usually used my computer and did most of my homework in bed, so Professor Hunter's sweater was still folded on the chair. He said his syllabus had his office hours, so I'd go as soon as I could to return it. My heartbeat quickened with just the thought of being alone with him.
I sat back down on my bed and looked down at the first sheet of the syllabus. Professor James Hunter. James. Even his name was sexy. I found myself wondering if he went by Jim or Jimmy. I decided against it though. Professor Hunter seemed sophisticated, and James Hunter was a very sophisticated sounding name.
I read through the first page of the syllabus. It was the same as every other professor's, outlining expectations and grading policies. I flipped to the assignments and read about the first speech. Who am I going to talk about? I didn't want my speech to be boring. I wanted Professor Hunter to notice me. So far my answers to his questions seemed to make him want to talk to me. And our awkward conversations made me feel alive. My gut told me to talk about something safe. For some reason though, I found myself brainstorming about how I could twist the assignment into talking about the stranger in the coffee shop. It was bold, probably way too bold. But I began to wonder if he would like it. He seemed to enjoy my answers so far. I wanted him to stare at me intently again.
My phone buzzed and I picked it up.
Tyler: "Thought I'd do it about my grandfather just to piss off Hunter. I'll make it real funny though. After all, there's this girl in class that I really want to impress."
I smiled as I reread his text. He was bold. And if he was willing to push the limits, maybe I should too. I texted him back: "I'm looking forward to hearing what you come up with. See you tomorrow, Apologetic Tyler."
I skimmed through the rest of the syllabus to find Professor Hunter's office hours. When I found the page, it felt like my heart stopped.
"Penny, are you okay?"
I hadn't even noticed that Melissa had come back. She dropped her keys on her bureau, walked over to her bed, and sat down on it cross-legged.
"Yeah," I said quickly and closed the syllabus. I tossed it onto my desk. "Just looking through some notes."
"Well you'll never believe who I ran into," she said.
"Who?"
"You're supposed to guess, Penny!"
"I have no idea."
"Austin."
"Please tell me you just ignored him."
"No, I went over and talked to him."
My eyes bulged. "You're joking, right? Melissa please tell me you're joking?"
"I walked over to confront him about being a huge jerk. I was going to stick up for you! And you know the first thing he said to me?"
"I don't want to know."
"He asked for your number."
"Why would he ask for my number? He has it. And even if he did lose it, I've called him twice since I've been back and he's completely ignored me."
"Well, he said he got a new phone."
"And you believed him? When people get new phones they usually keep their old numbers." I rolled my eyes.
"Well I don't know, he seemed sincere about it. Anyway, I did stick up for you. I refused to give him your number."
"Thanks, Melissa."
"So he gave me his new number instead."
"He gave you his number? He's so full of himself."
"No, not like that. He gave it to me to give to you." She pulled a slip of paper out of her pocket and waved it in the air.
"I don't want it."
"Geez, aren't you even going to see if it's a new number?!"
"It doesn't matter. There are a million other ways he could have contacted me. If he really wanted to see me, he easily could have." I folded my arms across my chest.
"Fine," Melissa said. "Well I will just leave this here," she placed the paper on her nightstand, "in case you change your mind. You're welcome by the way. I'm going to go take a shower." She hopped off her bed, grabbed her shower caddy, and walked out of the room.
As soon as the door closed behind her, I jumped off the bed. Instead of grabbing the piece of paper like I know she wanted me to do, I picked up my syllabus and turned to the page that had Professor Hunter's office hours and read the note he had written in it:
Miss Taylor,
I hate to think that you make walking around in the middle of the night a habit. But if you find yourself alone in the rain again, please do not hesitate to call me if you feel you are in need of an escort.
- J. H.
152-726-0133
After reading it for the fifth time, I pulled the paper to my chest. Oh my God! I grabbed my phone and quickly added his number. It took all my willpower to not text him. I flipped my syllabus back to the first page and placed it on my desk. It was hard to tell if he was being a responsible adult figure or completely flirting with me. I liked to think it was the latter. Part of me thought I had imagined the look in his eyes when he had walked me home. But maybe he was hungry...hungry for me. When I heard Melissa's hand on the doorknob, I quickly switched off the lights and pulled my sheet and comforter up over me and closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep. I hadn't told her about Professor Hunter walking me home on Thursday night. I wanted to keep just this one thing to myself and my fantasies.