Page 111 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 10

"I think that Penny can make her own choices." I could handle the onslaught of questions. But if Melissa thought I didn’t care about Penny, she was dead wrong. I had done nothing but think of Penny. That was why I’d tried so hard to push her away.

But hearing those words fall out of Melissa’s mouth made my chest feel tight.

I’d tried to save her from me. I looked over at Penny sitting on her bed.

The tightness in my chest eased slightly when her eyes locked with mine.

"I've thought about all the possibilities.

And I'm willing to risk it as long as she is. "

"I am." She smiled at me.

Every day it was growing harder to imagine my life without her in it. I saw a future. Did she see it too?

"And you aren't at all concerned about your age difference?" Melissa continued.

"No, it doesn't concern me.” It was honestly the least of my concerns, besides for every now and then when Penny’s immaturity seemed to show.

But really, who cared about six years? After this semester and the next she wouldn’t even be my student any longer.

“How about we have those brownies?" I suggested.

"Why, because chocolate makes all women's problems go away?" Melissa scoffed.

Jesus. What is with this girl? "I'm just hungry." I shifted in my chair. Melissa was tough to please. "What are you majoring in anyway, criminal justice?"

"I'll get plates,” Penny said. She hopped off her bed and found some paper plates from the closet.

Melissa was just staring at me accusingly. "No, political science."

"Do you want to be a lawyer?"

"This isn't really about me, James, it's about you."

"I was under the impression that we were supposed to get to know each other tonight."

"Yes, I want to be a lawyer. Now back to you. I find it hard to believe that you can't find someone to date that's your own age."

"The only person I want to date is Penny. I don't know what else I can say to make you believe me."

Melissa sighed. "Okay."

"Okay?" It was hard to believe that after all those pointed questions.

"I believe you. I'm sorry about all the questions. I'm just looking out for Penny. Dating a professor just isn't like her."

"I would hope not," I said.

"That's a little hypocritical."

"Then I guess I'm a hypocrite." I smiled at Penny. I liked that she was usually good and just bad for me. God I loved when she was bad.

Penny finished cutting the brownies and handed them out.

"These are really good," Melissa said sweetly.

Maybe her onslaught was finally done.

"I'll pass on your compliments." Ellen would appreciate it. I put my half-eaten brownie down on the plate. "So, if Penny isn't the type of girl who dates a professor, what type of girl is she exactly?"

Melissa laughed. "The type of girl who likes to stay in on a Saturday night. She doesn't break the rules. I mean, I thought she was joking when she told me she was dating you."

"I break the rules sometimes,” Penny said.

"No you don't. You're ridiculously straight-laced. I basically have to drag you out of the dorm on weekends."

I laughed. I put down my plate, stood up, and sat down next to Penny on her bed. I was tired of being formal around her. And the tension in the room seemed to completely evaporate once I put my arm around her. She wasn’t my student in this room. She was my girlfriend.

Melissa smiled at us. "Going from taking no risks to dating a professor is a huge leap. I didn't really understand it. But seeing you two together..." Melissa shrugged. "I get it."

"Well I'm glad we have your approval. Your opinion seems to be very important to Penny, and therefore important to me."

"And I promise not to tell anyone. Your secret is safe with me."

"Thank you, Melissa."

"And let me officially invite you to our birthday party. I'm sure Penny has already told you about it."

A birthday party? "Actually, she hasn't invited me yet.

" I smiled at her. "Or mentioned it at all." Not that I was upset. We’d been going through a lot. There’d hardly been time to mention parties.

But I knew she was turning 22 soon. I even had her gift already in the works.

Five years age difference was basically nothing.

It was weird that both Ian and Melissa seemed to think it was a big deal. At least Ellen was on my side.

Melissa laughed. "Well, normally I guess you couldn't come. But since it's going to be close to Halloween, we're having a costume party. So as long as you wear a good costume, I think it'll be okay."

How convenient. I flashed Penny a smile. "I wouldn't miss it."

"Can I come over to your place for a bit?" asked Penny.

I rubbed her back. She looked…off. Was it about the party?

I was excited that I’d be able to attend with her.

But I knew there were two sides to that.

I was only able to because I could wear a mask.

It would be a while before we could be just us in public.

I swallowed hard. I hoped that wasn’t weighing on her.

I could wait till the spring. But could she? "Of course."

"I'm sorry, I just have one more thing to say before you go,” Melissa said.

"Melissa," Penny pleaded.

"No, it's okay," I interjected. "What is it?"

"You better not hurt her."

"I won't." There were still a lot of things that Penny didn’t know about me. But I would never hurt her. Not on purpose. The thought made me pause. I tried to push it away.

"Well, you already have,” Melissa said. “So your word is hard to believe. I've never seen Penny act the way she did this past week. And you two may have forgotten about that, but I haven't."

She was right. And I really wished she wasn’t. "That was just a misunderstanding."

"Maybe if you're more upfront about your baggage, things like that won't happen."

"I won't hurt her," I repeated. I’d changed. Even Dr. Clark saw it. I could be good for Penny. I knew I could.

"That's all I can ask." Melissa finished her brownie. "You two are cute together."

I looked down at Penny. "It's getting late. If you wanted to come over for a while, we better get going." I got off the bed and pulled on my jacket.

Penny dumped the plates in the trash.

"Penny, can I talk to you for a second?" Melissa asked.

"I'll pull the car around," I said. I extended my hand to Melissa. "It was...interesting to meet you, Melissa."

"Good choice of words. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable." Melissa shook my hand without hesitating this time.

"Looking out for your friends is a good quality to have.” And I meant it. I was glad she was stepping up. “I hope to see you again soon. You're going to make a good lawyer."

I was pretty sure she blushed. I knew I could win her over. I left the two of them alone and made my way back outside.