After that, I’d look for him everywhere on campus. I’d linger near his usual route, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. Sarah noticed my sudden interest and encouraged me to go for it.
But before I could work up the courage,
Professor Hayes went viral. Pictures of him
lecturing spread like wildfire online, and
suddenly, half the female student body had a
crush on him. I also learned that he was a
く
professor, not a student. The gap between us
seemed too big, and my crush fizzled out. As a
memento, I adopted the little white kitten and
named him Quackers. Quackers grew into a
fluffy, healthy cat, and Professor Hayes faded
from my thoughts. I figured our paths would
never cross again.
And now, here we were. He’d been catfished by my cousin, and now, somehow, he was my online boyfriend. It was surreal.
“Sis, where are you going?” Ethan was tugging on my sleeve.
“Well, thanks to you, I kind of have a boyfriend now. So, you’re off the hook,” I said. Almost.
I dialed my uncle’s number and put him on speakerphone. “Uncle Mark? Ethan’s been catfishing someone with my pictures and getting them to buy him stuff. Now the guy’s asking me for compensation.”
<
My uncle went ballistic. The ensuing lecture
lasted a good half hour and ended with, “Get
home. Now!”
Ethan left, dejected.
I stood there, watching him go.
“That was cold,” a familiar voice said behind
- me.
I turned around and my lips brushed against something soft. I stumbled back, realizing I’d just kissed Professor Hayes on the cheek. He’d been leaning down to whisper in my ear, and I’d turned at the exact wrong moment.
Professor Hayes turned his head, a playful glint in his eyes. He tapped my forehead lightly. “We agreed on online boyfriend, not real–life
boyfriend. No taking advantage of me.”
My face burned. “I… I didn’t…” Okay, his cheek
>
2:40
87
was incredibly soft, and I wouldn’t have minded
kissing him again, just to be sure, but it had
totally been an accident.
Seeing my embarrassment, he chuckled. “Relax,
I know it was an accident. Don’t let it happen
again.”
“Come on, I’ll drive you home.”
I followed him silently, noticing his ears were a
little pink, too.
When I got home, Ethan had sent me a message: “I’m never talking to you again!”
I rolled my eyes and replied, “Don’t let the door
hit you on the way out.”
I also had a message from Sarah: “Dinner this
weekend? My boyfriend’s bringing his friends. All six–foot–something basketball players.”
LL
<
I immediately texted her back. “Guess who
Ethan catfished?”
“Who?”
“Adam Hayes. Professor Hayes.”
“????????????????????”
A screen full of question marks.
“OMG. Your cousin. And Professor Hayes? Catfishing?!”
“And now Professor Hayes is my online boyfriend.”
“????????????????????”
More question marks. “So… your cousin basically passed Professor Hayes on to you?”
“…Yeah, kind of.” It was weird, but accurate.
<
2:40
“Professor Hayes must have a crush on you!”
she exclaimed.
87
I considered it. “Doubtful. We’d never even
spoken before. And I’m pretty average looking. I can’t imagine him falling for a picture.”
“If he doesn’t like your pictures, he must like your cousin’s sparkling personality? That’s… not ideal.”
“…Shut up.”
She paused, then typed, “Won’t people talk? You know, student–teacher relationship and all?”
“I’m almost done with grad school. It’s fine.
And Professor Hayes said it’s just an online thing, like gaming buddies.”
