Amazed (Tempted Book 3) (8 page)

“Grace, can I see you?” Talon asked as I was leaving out of class.

What now?

“Sure,” I said, feeling nervous.

“I’ll meet you at the coffee shop,” Holland whispered and bolted out of the door leaving me alone with Talon.

He walked around and leaned against his desk. Watching the last student walk out of the class, a sexy smirk crept across his face.

“What’s going on with you and Ethan?”

“What do you mean?” I asked, playing dumb.

“You don’t sit together anymore. It’s almost as if you don’t even know each other.”

He was right. We didn’t know each other. He wasn’t who I thought he was but on the other hand I wasn’t who he thought I was either.

“Is there a point to this?” I asked, feeling confused.

“The point is I’m not sure why you’re wasting your time moping over a boy when a man is clearly interested in you,” he said, running his eyes over my body.

Say what?

“I’m sorry. I’m not sure I heard you right,” I told him, looking at him as if he had grown another head.

“You heard me right, Grace,” he said, moving closer to me.

I didn’t move. I just stood there. Feeling his breath against my skin, I felt my body shiver. He wasn’t Ethan and I knew that he never would be but maybe Talon was better for me.

I knew he was my professor but Ethan was my age and you saw how that worked out for me.

“My next class starts in ten minutes but I want you to meet me at my apartment at nine,” he said, caressing my face.

Hearing the door open, he jumped back and grabbed a paper from his desk.

“You can do better that that, Ms. Emerson,” he said, turning on his teacher mode.

“I’ll work on it,” I told him, grabbing the paper and scurrying out of the door.

Running down the breezeway, I felt like I had done something I shouldn’t have and I liked it. Arriving at the coffee shop, I pulled the door open and rushed inside.

“Over here,” Holland called, waving her arms.

The coffee shop was micro. I saw her when I walked in the door but she was making sure that I didn’t miss her.

“I didn’t see you sitting right in front of me. Thanks for being so helpful, Holl,” I said with sarcasm dripping from my voice.

“Whatever. I already ordered you a breakfast tea,” she said, pointing to the red paper cup in front of her, “So, what did Talon want?”

“Me,” I answered truthfully.

“That wasn’t vague at all,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“He wants me to meet him at his apartment tonight,” I blurted out, covering my eyes from the embarrassment.

Peeking through my fingers, I saw her just staring at me.

“Do you think I’m a slut for considering it? It does sound like a bad porno doesn’t it?” I asked not stopping to take a breath, “I can tell by your face that you think I shouldn’t do it and you’re right, it’s crazy.”

“That’s not what I was thinking,” she said, sipping her cappuccino

“Oh, what were you thinking?”

“I was thinking of what you should wear,” she said, smiling.

“I love you,” I told her, drinking my tea and burning my tongue in the process.

“I know. I love you too,” she said, getting up.

“Where are you going?”

“To class. We’ve got to get this day over with so we can get you ready for tonight,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows up and down.

“Horndog,” I said, following her out the door.

“Who me? No, never,” she said, gasping mockingly.

I loved that side of Holland. She was the innocent, angelic girl but around me she came out of her shell. She trusted me and I was so thankful for that.

The rest of the day my nerves were running rampant. I kept asking myself if I was sure I could go through with it. Did I want to be one of those girl that got involved with her professor? Did it sound too much like a romance novel to be real? But I knew I needed something to get my mind off of Ethan and Talon seemed to be the right man for the job.

When I finally got home and got dressed, I had just enough time to pace back and forth nervously. I almost talked myself out of going to his apartment a few times but Holland told me I was going, so I guess that was that.

Holland pulled me down that hall, into the elevator, and held me in place as she knocked on his door. And then she bolted, leaving me standing there all alone and nervous as hell.

“Hey, Grace,” Talon greeted me as he opened the door.

My mind started running haywire. Did I look okay? Was my dress too slutty? Was this illegal? Did I remember to brush my teeth? What do I do if I need to poop? Was Maddie right, do I always look like a stripper? Maybe that’s why he brought me here. Yep, he thought I was a stripper. You know the usual questions any girl asks herself before a big date with a handsome professor.

“Hi,” I said, feeling like I was going to pass out.

“Please come in,” he said, opening the door wider.

I could have looked at his face for hours upon end and never gotten tired but something felt off. I didn’t feel welcome and comfortable like I did with Ethan. I didn’t feel anything I had felt with Ethan but the night was still young and I was hoping that would change.

Walking through the door, the first thing that caught my eye was the huge bookcase in the corner. Everything about this apartment screamed man and that only made my stomach knot up with nerves.

A couple of hours later Talon walked me to my door and leaned in for a goodnight kiss. Closing my eyes, I waited until I felt his lips on mine. His tongue brushed against my lips begging for entry. Opening my mouth, I felt his tongue swirl around mine and it feel really good. But I couldn’t stop myself from pretending that he was Ethan. I knew it was wrong but I couldn’t help it.

“Goodnight,” he whispered, pulling away.

“Goodnight,” I said, watching him walk away.

When he got in the elevator I unlocked my door and pushed it open.

“You’re back late. Did you have fun?” Holland asked, munching on chips.

“Yeah, I did. He’s great, Holl,” I said, stepping out of my shoes, “Wait, why are you still up?”

“Trent won’t quit calling,” she said and I couldn’t help but notice that expression completely changed.

“I thought you had your number changed.”

“I did but apparently he found my new one,” she said, offering me some chips.

“I’m not hungry,” I said, shaking my head no.

“More for me,” she said, stuffing her mouth full of chips.

It’s funny how the people you care about the most are the ones who hurt you the most. It’s like you put all of your effort into making the relationship work while they put all their effort into destroying it.

I wasn’t sure why I couldn’t shake Ethan after what he did. I wasn’t sure why I missed everything about us, I wasn’t sure why I couldn’t focus on Talon and I wasn’t sure why I cried every night over him when he didn’t care.

Okay, that was a lie. I knew exactly why and that was because I loved him with everything I had.

And then some.

The whispers swirled around me like a tornado. Sitting in my seat, I leaned over and asked Holland if she had any idea what was going on. She didn’t.

When the door to the classroom opened and Dean Sheldon walked in. That was odd, where was Talon?

I knew when he showed up it wasn’t good. My nervousness started to hit the ceiling.

“I’m sure everyone was Expecting Professor Conrad but we have learned of an encounter that occurred with a student and he is currently under investigation,” he said, looking right at me, “For the safety of the student we have decided to keep her name out of this.”

Letting out the breath I was holding in, I finally relaxed.

“We already know who it is. It’s all over school,” Abby Daniels called from the back of the class.

She was always so nice to me until I started dating Ethan. After that she became a bully toward me. I guess it’s safe to say that she had a thing for Ethan. She needed to join the club because apparently he was a hot commodity.

I had become a punching bag for girls who wanted Ethan. They thought I was some sort of threat but they needed to know what I knew. I wasn’t a threat because he didn’t want me. He wanted nothing to do with me.

“Abby, that’s enough,” the Dean warned.

“Was he good kisser, Grace?” she asked, cackling with laughter.

Gathering my stuff, I ran from the room and slid down the brick wall next to the classroom. Who told the dean? Seriously, who would do that? Holland was the only one who knew and I knew she wouldn’t do that. It was no question about it.

Hearing the door swing open, I saw a cloud of blond hair swaying as Holland made her way to me.

“Gracie, I’m so sorry that happened,’ she said, enveloping me in her arms.

I couldn’t answer all I could do was sob. Who would have told that to everyone? But the worst part of it all was that someone caused Talon to lose his job. That’s what made me feel the worst.

“Do you want to leave?” she asked, rocking my back and forth in her arms.

I could run away from the scandal today or I could go ahead and face it and get it over with.

“No, let’s go back in,” I told her, wiping all my tears away and getting myself together.

She looked at me like a proud mother doting on her child.

“You always were the strong one,” she said, helping me up off of the ground.

Shooting her a smile, we linked arms and walked back into crowded classroom. The first thing I noticed was Ethan looking at me with something in his eyes but I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was.

Concern? Guilt? Maybe a combination of both but I didn’t understand why he would feel guilty. I didn’t really understand anything about him. I thought I did but I didn’t. That much I was sure of.

“Ms. Emerson, let me know if anyone bothers you and they will be dealt with. Your substitute teacher will be here any minute. Let’s all try to behave,” Dean Sheldon said, leaving.

Nodding, I sat down quickly. I couldn’t stand knowing that they were all looking at me and judging me.

Looking down at my notebook, I read over last week’s notes like my life depended on it. I was doing anything and everything to drown out them all whispering that I was a slut and a teacher’s pet.

“Shut up. Just shut up!” Holland said, jumping up from her seat and turning to face everyone, “Leave her alone. And Abby do you think you’re in the position to call anyone a slut? I mean really? You’ve slept with nearly everybody on the football team.”

I still couldn’t look up but I did crack a smile. She had moved to Lakeveiw and grew balls. Just when I needed her to.

Abby jumped up to confront her but her friends told her to sit down. They were actually intimidated of Holland.

“That’s right, Bitch. Sit down,” Holland said, smirking.

What had gotten into her?

“Who are you and what have you done with the real Holland?” I asked in disbelief.

She just laughed and sat down beside me.

Our substitute came in and everything kind of settled down for a while but it didn’t stay that way. At lunch I had people asking me if I had slept with all of the teachers on campus.

“How you holding up, Grace?” Ethan asked, sitting at the table with me and Holland.

He was still wearing the same look as earlier. I didn’t like it on him, it didn’t fit.

“I’m just peachy. How are you on this lovely day?” I asked, sarcastically.

“I’m serious, Grace.”

“Why do you care?”

“Because I just do. Do you have a problem with that?”

“No, I’m sorry for being a bitch. I’m just not having the best day but I really do appreciate your concern,” I said, dropping my defenses.

“I understand. Do you girls mind if I eat with you?” he asked, looking from one to the other.

“I don’t mind,” Holland said, looking at me to see what my response would be.

“Me either.”

“Good. I wasn’t leaving anyway,” he said, picking up his pizza and taking a huge bite.

I loved being around Ethan, he made me feel something indescribable even when I was having the worst possible day.

“I still don’t understand how the dean found out,” Holland said, shaking her head.

“Me either. No one knew about us.”

Ethan locked his jaw and started puffing his chest out.

“Are you having a heart attack?” Holland asked, trying not to laugh.

“I wasn’t aware that you and Professor Conrad were an “us”,” He said completely ignoring Holland’s jab.

“We weren’t. I mean not really. It was one kiss and it was stupid,” I said, trying not to giddy that he was jealous of me with another man.

“I thought you were going to pop a blood vessel, Nick Jonas,” Holland said, laughing way too hard at her own joke, “Get it? Nick Jonas because he was jealous. You know like the song? Okay, I’m going to shut up now.”

Laughing, I felt Ethan’s foot brush against mine under the table.

“Can we talk outside?” he whispered in my ear, causing chills to run through my body.

Nodding, I got up and walked outside with him. I couldn’t help but wonder what I was doing and why I was letting myself be alone with him.

He was toxic to me I had learned that after everything that had happened with us, but yet there I was alone with him.

“Grace, I miss you,” he said with his smoldering eyes.

I wanted to tell him I missed him too but I couldn’t do that. There was no way I would let myself fall victim to his charms again.

“I don’t believe you,” I said, standing my ground.

Sort of. My voice was shaky and I hoped that he couldn’t hear the nervousness dripping from it. But knowing Ethan he probably had and I knew that he was going to prey on that.

“Why?” he asked, anger contorting his face.

“Because we were happy and you screwed it up.”

“I know but I swear I have my reasons for what I done.”

“Oh, really. I can’t wait to hear them,” I said, crossing my arms and tapping my foot.

“All of the guys on the team was telling me I was getting into deep with you and that I needed to focus on football. Football is all I have, Grace.”

“That’s not true, Ethan. You had me.”

“I love you, Grace. I want to be someone you’re proud to seen with. That’s why I thought it was best for me to focus on football. I wanted to make something of myself. I wanted to do it for us.”

I should have been stronger but I believed him. I felt my hear flutter in my chest and my knees buckle. I was giving into him and I couldn’t stop myself. Love makes you do crazy things.

“I love you, too.”

“Do you think we could give us another chance?”

“Yes,” I blurted out, smiling from ear to ear.

He picked me up and spun me around as we laughed and kissed each other.

I couldn’t have been happier that I was back together with Ethan.

I had found the love of my life and I never wanted to let go.

Ever.