Seducing My Professor

11. Caught

Honey's cheeks heat furiously as Mama looks her over with an amused expression. She's just caught Ben kissing Honey on the front porch.

Ben takes two giant steps back, his face as red as Honey's feels.

Mama: "Who's this man you're about to start playing tongue-hockey with on the front porch?"

Honey: "How do you even know what that means, Mama?"

Mama: "What, do you think you kids invented that term? I know what's going on a lot more than you think."

Honey: "Oh my God, please don't ever say it again."

Ben: "Honey, meeting your mother has answered so many questions I've had about you."

Honey: "You hush!"

Her mother chuckles.

Mama: "Are you going to tell me who this man is?"

Honey: "His name is Ben. He's..."

She looks at Ben, hoping to find some clarity.

Ben: "Your...?"

The word "boyfriend" hangs in the air.

Honey: Ben and I talked about being boyfriend and girlfriend. I can't just take it back. What will he think of me?

Honey: "This is... This is my boyfriend."

Honey: I like the sound of that.

Ben: "Hi. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Perribow."

Ben shakes her mother's hand. She gives Honey a sly smile.

Mama: "You didn't tell me your new boyfriend was so handsome, Honey."

Honey: "He is, isn't he?"

Ben: "You're too good to me, Honey."

Honey: "And don't you forget it."

Mama: "How did the two of you meet?"

Honey: Oh boy. I can't tell her he's my professor. She'd flip. And Dad might escort Ben out of here with a shotgun. No, I can't risk that.

Honey: "We met at school, Mama."

Ben: "That right. We bumped into each other outside of class one day."

Honey glances at Ben. He winks.

Honey: He's quick on the up-take.

Mama: "The two of you just bumped into each other?"

Ben: "Literally. I accidentally knocked over all her books."

Honey: "But he was a real gentleman, Mama. He helped me pick up all of them."

Ben: "It was the least I could do for the trouble."

Mama smiles approvingly at Ben.

Mama: "Sounds like your mama raised you right."

Ben: "She did her best, ma'am."

Honey: Success! Mama approves of Ben. That's enough to get us through the next few days.

Her dad appears in the doorway and sidles up next to Mama.

Dad: "Who's this? And what are you folks doing outside? Come in!"

They all step inside. Dad sizes up Ben, and Ben stands up straighter.

Ben: "Nice to meet you both. I'm Ben Dawson. I came here to win back your daughter. She left New York very suddenly and I missed her."