The Professor I Shouldn't Want

Same Time, Same Place, Part I

POV: Isadora

I was standing by the front door of my building, waiting for Henry. It was Saturday, around 7:00 AM. I’d already gotten a few texts from my mom and brother, both wanting to know if I was at the club yet. Well, Anne would be there in a few minutes; as for Isadora...

When Henry finally pulled up, I hopped in the car quickly, trying to hide my nerves and just act excited about the whole thing.

“Morning, princess!”, he said, leaning in for a quick kiss.

His hair was still slightly damp, and he was rocking a more casual look, a light blue button-down with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms and black cotton shorts.

“You pumped?”, he asked with a smile.

“Yeah, definitely.”, I smiled back.

As soon as we got to the club, my eyes were darting everywhere, looking for a familiar face, anyone who might recognize me. But the first person we ran into was Henry’s friend, Richard.

“We finally have the honor of your presence, Anderson!”, Richard said, walking toward us.

He was tall, though not as tall as Henry, and clearly older. Henry smiled and greeted him.

“You can thank my girlfriend. I only came because of her.”, he said, sliding an arm around my waist. “This is Anne.”

“Hi!”, I said, greeting him.

“I’ll be eternally grateful to you for managing to drag him out here.”, he said as he shook my hand. I just smiled.

“Where’s your wife?”, Henry asked.

“She was right behind me a second ago.”, he started looking around for her. “Vivian, honey!”, he called out once he spotted her.

His wife walked over, and the moment I saw her, I froze. That woman had seen me as Isadora countless times at the club. We’d never spoken, but she had definitely talked to my mother and sister before.

“Henry, what a pleasure to have you here!”, she said, greeting him.

“According to him, his girlfriend was the one who convinced him.”, Richard said, making her turn toward me.

She just stared at me for about two seconds before saying hello, making my blood run cold. But in the end, she didn't recognize me, at most, she probably just thought I looked familiar.

After the introductions, we headed to where the tournament was being held. The place was surrounded by manicured lawns; the grass around the courts was a perfect, uniform green, contrasting with the blue hardcourts and the freshly painted white lines.

Tall trees were scattered around the complex, providing partial shade from the morning sun and creating a sense of exclusivity. The courts were lined up side-by-side, separated by dark green chain-link fences. Each one had a tightly strung net and discreet benches for the players on the sidelines. Near the entrances, there were small stands with folded white towels and coolers stocked with water and sports drinks.

The main bleachers weren't huge, but they were comfortable and fit the vibe of the place perfectly. Instead of a massive stadium structure, there were rows of light wood seating with some spots reserved for portable chairs. On a higher level above the bleachers, there was a sort of VIP lounge that offered a prime view of the main courts. There, white umbrellas shielded spectators from the sun while waiters moved around with trays of coffee, iced tea, and light cocktails.

That was definitely where my family would be, and God only knows how much I hoped we wouldn't end up sitting there too. Fortunately, I was in luck, we took a seat in the bleachers. It was almost 8:00 AM; the first match started at 8:30, and I needed to find my family before then, especially Thomas. I didn't want him thinking I’d flaked on his tournament.

“Do you want anything, babe? Water, juice?”, Henry asked.

“No, I’m good.”, I smiled. “Actually, I need to hit the restroom. Where’s the closest one?”, I asked, looking at Vivian, who gave me clear directions.

“I can go with you if you want.”, she offered.

“No need!”, I said quickly, forcing a smile. “I know exactly where to go, thank you.”

I stood up, and as soon as I was out of their line of sight, I grabbed my phone to text Carol.

The situation was this: I was in a place where I had to be Isadora and Anne at the same time, or at least, almost at the same time. As Isadora, it was crucial that Thomas and my parents saw me. Since Thomas was competing, I didn't need to be with him the whole time, and it wouldn't be weird for me not to want to hang out with my parents either, especially after our last fight. But they needed to know I was there; they needed to see me two or three times during the event, and that was the hard part.

As Anne, I needed to be with Henry, not just because I came with him, but because for Anne, this was a new and unfamiliar place. It wouldn't make sense for me to be wandering around alone. I needed three, or at least two, excuses to slip away from him without raising suspicion, and I’d already used one.

Isadora: [Meet me in the bathroom near the court]

I texted Carol before picking up my pace.

The plan was simple, or at least it sounded simple in theory. As Anne, I was wearing a white wide-strap, square-neck top under beige high-waisted tailored shorts. Carol would have the outfit I’d wear as Isadora, which, to avoid even a hint of suspicion, was a sleeveless, cinched-waist white midi dress with a light blue rose print. So, I’d go into the bathroom, change, and leave Anne’s clothes with her while I talked to my family. Then, I’d head back to the bathroom and reverse the process. Simple. In theory.

“Did anyone recognize you?”, Carol asked the second I walked in.

I shook my head, grabbed the bag with my clothes, and ducked into a stall. I changed in seconds, just swapping the top and pulling the dress on over the rest. I adjusted the wig, took out the contacts, and removed the glasses. Done. I had no time to lose.

“I won't be long. I’m just going to say hi to my parents, talk to Thomas, and come right back.”

“Got it. I’ll wait here. Good luck.”, she smiled, and I smiled back. Honestly, if there was one thing I needed right then, it was luck.

I hurried out of the bathroom and headed toward the VIP area.

“Hey, Izzy!”, Thomas said as soon as he saw me. “I thought you weren't coming.”

“I’d never miss one of your matches.”, I smiled at him.

My parents saw me right after. They were sitting comfortably in their chairs next to Isabella and her husband. I didn't go over to them; I just gave a formal wave. Done. They’d seen me.

“Have a seat here.”, he pointed to his chair. “I have to head down to warm up in a minute.”

“I actually came with some friends. I’m going to watch from the bleachers.”

“A true fan! I like it.”, he laughed. “Alright then. See you later!”

“Good luck!”, I hugged him. “I’ll be rooting for you.”

I left right after Thomas. The only reason I was at this event as Isadora was because of my brother, so there was no point wasting time mingling with my parents.

I rushed back toward the bathroom, feeling a bit relieved. The first switch had worked. All I had to do now was put the Anne disguise back on and get back to Henry. However, it looked like he’d found me first.

He was standing right in front of the women’s restroom, looking at his phone. I came to a dead stop the moment I saw him. But I was already too close, and my less-than-subtle movement caught his attention. Dammit. There was no hiding now, he was looking right at me.

“Ms. Bennett?”