Page 67 of After Hours Lectures
“Hi, Professor Foster. We appreciate you covering the game today,” I replied in case anyone overheard our interaction.
While we were used to pretending every Monday in class that we had a strictly platonic teacher-student relationship, it didn’t make things any easier. I hated the fact I couldn’t kiss him hello or hold his hand.
A little more than a month and then we could.
“So where can I store my stuff?” He lifted his camera bag and tripod.
“In there should be fine.” I gestured to the dugout behind me.
My phone pinged with another incoming message, this one from my father letting me know they’d arrived.
“I’ll be right back,” I told Hayden. “My parents are here.”
He nodded, and I rushed over to the gate to meet my dads, who were followed by Aron Parker and Drew Rockland.
“Hey, son. How’s it going?” my dad asked as he hugged me.
“It’s a little crazy, but I think we’re ready.”
Chase wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “We’re so proud of you. Today is going to be awesome.”
“I just got a text from Vaughn,” Aron advised me as he gave me a fist bump. “He and the band are almost here, and Slate’s with them.”
Slate Rodgers and Aron had played together for the San Francisco Giants, and I definitely owed Aron and Drew for getting them to participate in the event.
“Thanks again for getting me in contact with them. I couldn’t have done this without all of you.”
“Anything for a good cause,” Drew replied, pulling me in for a bro hug.
Since people were starting to arrive, I looked for someone who could monitor the gate and welcome the players. Ford was the only one who didn’t look busy, so I called him over.
“Hey, the players are going to start showing up soon. Could you hang out here and let them in?”
He eyed the group I was standing with, looking a bit starstruck and nodded. “Sure.”
“Thanks. Here’s a list with all the names. Just tell them to head over there.” I pointed toward the tables near the dugout.
When I had first talked to Aron and Drew about the game, I’d asked them if they’d like to be captains of opposing teams. I thought it was fitting since their relationship had started when they were opponents who’d famously gotten into a fight during a game before being traded to the same team and eventually falling in love. They were good sports about it and thought it would be fun.
As we started to cross the field, Fallon jogged over. “Hi, Mr. Statler.” He shook my dad’s hand before offering his hand to Chase. “Mr. Matthewson, it’s good to see you again. Thanks for coming.”
“Happy to be here,” my father responded.
“Fallon is the Sigma president,” I explained to Aron and Drew who each introduced themselves to my friend.
I led everyone to the dugout on the first base side where Aron’s team would be. He set down his gear and then we all headed over to the other side so Chase and Drew could do the same. When we reached the other dugout, Hayden stepped out, looking at something on his camera, and almost ran into Fallon.
“Hey, Professor Foster,” Fallon greeted before giving me a small questioning look. I’m sure he was curious how this interaction would play out.
Hayden’s head snapped up and I could tell by the way his eyes widened, he knew who we were standing with. Not only would he probably recognize Chase, Aron and Drew, but other than our different color eyes, I was the spitting image of my father.
“Good morning, Mr. Donnelley.” He nodded at me. “Mr. Statler. I was just going to take a few test shots before getting started.”
Hayden and I had already agreed that the game wasn’t the appropriate place for him to meet my parents and we’d planned to avoid introductions, even as my professor, if we could help it. When my dads eventually learned about us, I wanted to be able to ease into the conversation about him having been my teacher because I didn’t want them to view our relationship negatively. Now, when I introduced him as my boyfriend after graduation, they’d know right away and I worried how they’d react. Still, I couldn’t stand here and not say anything.
“Professor Foster teaches my photojournalism class, but he also works for a local news outlet and has agreed to cover the game for us today.” I faced Hayden. “These are my dads, Gage Statler and Chase Matthewson.”
My dad stuck his hand out to shake Hayden’s. “Nice to meet you. It’s not every day we get to meet one of Tyler’s professors.”
