Chapter 1

I had an online boyfriend. One day in class, I was getting sleepy, so I texted him something flirty to keep myself awake.

[I haven't been sleeping well lately. Maybe it'd feel easier if you were lying beside me.]

A second later, that message popped up on the big screen in front of the whole class.

And to make things worse, the contact name "Sweetheart" was right on top.

The room instantly exploded.

Then the cold, serious professor adjusted his glasses and—shockingly—smiled for the first time ever.

"Sorry about that," he said. "My girlfriend's a little troublemaker."

*****

I was supposed to be in social studies, but I snuck into this science class for my best friend, Sacha. I was nervous, so I picked a seat way in the back, tucked in the corner.

I slumped over my desk, bored out of my mind. The second the professor walked in, the loud classroom went dead silent. I swear I even heard a few people gasp.

Honestly, I was just as stunned.

I had no idea Sacha's professor was that good-looking. How did she skip class without regret?

He had sharp features, a clean-cut look, and carried himself with quiet confidence. There was something about him that made people sit up straighter—but also keep their distance.

He was so hot it made my mouth water.

But what really threw me off was how familiar he looked. I couldn't explain it, but something about him reminded me of my online boyfriend.

My mind instantly went to those body pictures my boyfriend sent me every night. Every inch of him was flawless. That man was art.

Sure, the professor was nice to look at—but I didn't understand a word of what he was teaching. It all went right over my head.

So I stayed half-asleep in the back corner, fighting to keep my eyes open.

To stay awake, I shot my boyfriend a flirty text.

[I haven't been sleeping well lately. Maybe it'd feel easier if you were lying beside me.]

The second I hit send, the classroom erupted.

"What the hell!"

"Did the professor just get that text?"

"Wait, what's happening? I need to record this!"

All the noise snapped me upright. I looked toward the front—and almost passed out.

The message I just sent popped up on the big screen in front of the entire class.

And to make things worse, the contact name "Sweetheart" was right on top.

The room exploded. Everyone started whispering and freaking out. No one could believe that the cold, serious professor—our youngest, most famous teacher—was getting those kinds of texts from his girlfriend.

Then, for the first time ever, Professor Maynard Dawson adjusted his glasses and actually smiled.

"Sorry about that," he said. "My girlfriend's a little troublemaker."

For a second, the whole class went silent. And then the whispering came back even louder than before.

Back in my seat, I just sat there, stunned.

My brain was spinning. What the hell? Was that really him? Was he my boyfriend?

While I was still trying to wrap my head around it, my phone buzzed with a new message.

[Be good. I'll send you more pictures when I get home.]

Of course, I knew exactly what kind of pictures he meant.

I couldn't stop thinking about all those shirtless pictures he'd sent me—his sculpted chest, that sexy neck...

I was almost drooling before I caught myself.

No, it was not the time for that.

I looked up at the man on stage, still smiling at his phone.

Yeah, I was sure of it now. He was the boyfriend I'd been talking to online all this time.

When class ended, everyone was still buzzing over the message.

"Damn! Who knew the cold professor could be that sweet to his sweetheart?"

"I can't believe he's so whipped!"

"But honestly, I'm jealous."

"I need to know what his girlfriend's like!"

"What kind of girl could turn our cool professor into that guy?"

With all the gossip buzzing around me, my face was burning up.

I couldn't take it anymore. I shoved my books into my bag and rushed out.