"Penny, I'm sorry."
"Yeah I know, you already said that tonight." I turned around to face him. "What exactly are you apologizing for anyway? Are you trying to say that you somehow 'accidentally' ignored me all summer? Or are you referring to the girls you were just flirting with on our date? Or maybe all the times you've stood me up? Or are you just sorry for being an arrogant asshole in general?"
"Just..."
"Just what, Austin? Just give you another chance? Why, because you didn't mean all those things you said about 'labels'? You've changed and you want to be my boyfriend now?"
"You know that's not what I want. But I do want you."
"And every other girl on campus?" I was seething. I turned to walk away again.
"That's not what it's like. Damn it, Penny, won't you just listen to me?" He grabbed my arm.
My heel got stuck in a gap between the bricks as he pulled me. It snapped off and I fell to my knees. His hands were on me in an instant to help me to my feet.
"Get off me!" I yelled and pushed him away. I stumbled to my feet. The tears were starting to well in my eyes.
"Geez, Penny, lighten up."
"Save your advice, Austin. I don't care. We're done."
"Until you call me again, begging to see me."
He did get my calls!It took every ounce of restraint in me to not slap him.
"Well, until then," he said. He turned away and walked back up the restaurant steps.
"Grow up, Austin!" I yelled. Without turning around he put his hand up in the air to acknowledge he had heard me, and disappeared back inside the bar. He hadn't changed at all.
I was done with boys. I wanted a man. And I wanted that man to be Professor Hunter. It was time to find out if he wanted me. Before I could chicken out, I took my phone out of my clutch and texted Professor Hunter. "Any chance I can get a lift?"
Temptation - Chapter 14
Saturday
Not even a minute passed before I got his response: "Where are you?"
"Outside of Kildare's."
My phone bleeped. "I'll be right there."
I put my phone back in my clutch and sat down on the curb. My knees were bleeding and I was holding my broken heel in my hand. I smiled when it began to drizzle. It was like my fantasies were coming true. After several minutes of nervous waiting, a black Audi coupe rolled up next to me. Even his car was sexy.
Professor Hunter leaned over and opened the car door from the inside. I climbed inside and shut the door.
"Did I wake you?" I asked. He put the car in drive and drove off. His hair was sleek from the rain. He was wearing dark jeans and a gray hoodie. The zipper of his hoodie wasn't pulled up all the way, and he clearly wasn't wearing a shirt underneath. His outfit made him look even younger. He really couldn't be much older than me.
"Yes," he replied.
The rain quickly picked up. In the silence, the drops began to splash loudly on the windshield. I could tell he was a little grumpy from me disturbing his sleep.
"You live near here?" I asked.
"Yes."
"Where?"
The car pulled to a stop at a red light. He leaned across me and opened up the glove compartment. I gulped. I wanted to kiss him so badly. He grabbed a tissue and placed it gently on one of my cut knees. Ignoring my question, he asked, "Do you want to talk about what happened?"