Page 115 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 1

"Like I'm a pathetic loser that you pity."

"You're definitely not a pathetic loser." He gave me an encouraging smile.

Then stop looking at me like that!I stared back at him.

"Melissa told me what happened," Tyler said gently.

"Right." Of course she did. She probably still wanted Tyler and me to be together.

"Did you want to talk about it?"

I looked up at him. "I thought you didn't want to be friends with me."

"Penny, I'm sorry I was such a jerk. I was pissed. But I still care about you." He paused for a moment. "Clearly more than he does."

"Tyler..."

"Does he even realize how upset you are?"

"I don't know. I haven't spoken to him."

"Penny. Come on. You deserve better than this. You deserve better than him."

"You don't even know him." I suddenly felt cold. I wrapped my arms around myself.

"I know enough."

He didn't say it, but what he meant was that Professor Hunter was dating a student. And that made Professor Hunter a creepy asshole. But Tyler couldn't be more wrong. I loved Professor Hunter. I loved him more than I even realized I could love someone. And I needed him back. "He's a good guy, Tyler. This whole thing is my fault. I deserve this."

"You deserve to be happy. And he's not making you happy."

"I really don't want to talk about this." I bit my lip. I didn't want to start crying in the middle of the restaurant.

Tyler was quiet for a moment. I could feel his eyes on me. "I think you should report what happened to the dean."

I winced at his words. I should have known that's why he wanted to talk to me. "Tyler, you don't even know the whole story."

"The whole story doesn't matter. All that matters is that he broke the rules."

"I broke the rules too." I pushed him every chance I got. Blatantly flirting with him in class, texting him, not leaving him alone when he had asked me to. "I wanted this. Probably more than he did." Clearly more than he did.If he wanted this, wouldn't he have forgiven me by now?The thought made my stomach churn.

The waitress put our food down in front of us. I was no longer hungry. The realization that Professor Hunter didn't want me suddenly felt like a fresh wound. I slowly cut into my pancakes and took a bite. It didn't taste like anything.

"Just think about it, okay?" Tyler continued.

No!"Okay."

We ate in silence. I chewed and swallowed and tried not to make a disgusted face.

"Are you excited for your birthday?" Tyler asked as he pushed his plate to the side.

My birthday. There was nothing I wanted more than to spend my birthday with Professor Hunter. But it was tomorrow. And he still wasn't talking to me. I didn't have any plans for my actual birthday. Melissa had planned our joint birthday party for Friday. It was still costume themed. And it was being held at Tyler and Josh's frat house. I wasn't looking forward to it at all. Whenever Melissa asked me about any of the details I'd just mumble yes to all her plans. I figured I just wouldn't go. I realized I hadn't answered Tyler's question. "I guess."

Tyler laughed. "You don't sound excited."

A month ago I was thrilled that I would be turning 20 soon. I didn't want to be a teenager. I wanted to be more mature and for Professor Hunter to want me. But now I was just sad. Turning 20 seemed like a big deal. I had been so wrapped up in the idea of what Professor Hunter thought about my age that I hadn't taken into account how I really felt about turning 20. "I feel old."

"That's because you haven't been eating."