Page 10 of Teach Me
I went through a few other names, asking leading questions that would touch on concepts we’d be covering during the semester, and then, on a whim, I turned my attention to the third row. “Cameron Taylor?”
Cameron raised his hand, an impish twinkle in his eyes. “Right here, Professor.”
“True or false: the availability heuristic is the tendency to overestimate the importance of information that’s readily available.”
“True,” he said without hesitation.
“Correct. It’s a cognitive bias. Care to give an example?” Normally, I would have ended the line of questioning after the student answered correctly, but I was curious to see how he would respond if I dug deeper.
Cameron rubbed his jawline, squinting one eye thoughtfully, which somehow made him more attractive. “Ummm, maybe Netflix could be an example? Or hookup culture.”
“How so? What’s your line of thinking, can you expand?” My interest was piqued. Every now and then, I got a smart-ass answer to these questions and, occasionally, some academically-minded students who knew what they were talking about. I wasn’t sure how to categorize Cameron yet.
Cameron shrugged one shoulder, that loose half grin still on his face. “Okay, so with Netflix, you might end up picking a show or movie that’s been heavily promoted or that’s on the trending feed, even if it’s not the best option for you or what you actually like. It just seems like a good choice because everyone else is talking about it, and it’s right there in front of you with that little popularity ranking at the top. From personal experience, I suggest no one watchPennies for Sorrowsunless you’re in the mood to be gutted. I had to watch SpongeBob for, like, half an hour after just to recover.”
Laughter bubbled up in the lecture hall, and I offered Cameron an amused smile. “Duly noted. Adjacent to that: would your recommendation againstPennies for Sorrowbe considered availability bias?”
“No, just personal anecdote, I think? Though I guess I’ve got a captive audience right now.” He chuckled, and I gestured to the class at large.
“How many of you who haven’t seen the film are now going to seek it out based on Cameron’s succinct but illustrative review?”
A good twenty or so people raised their hands, and I grinned at Cameron, delighted he’d succeeded in engaging the class in a way that was often challenging as a professor. “Noted, and we’ll come back to that, as well.” I addressed Cameron again. “And how about hookup culture?”
“No, thanks,” he joked to more scattered laughter and a few whoops.
“I meant as an example of availability bias, not your personal preference.” I could have sworn a hint of pink appeared on his cheeks, but Cameron was, once more, quick to recover.
“Between dating apps and social media we’ve got tons of options at our fingertips. In theory, of course,” he tacked on when someone in the back told him to speak for himself. “Someone might overestimate the importance of a casual hookup or one-night stand because it’s available and seems like a good idea at the time, even if it doesn’t necessarily lead to a meaningful connection or long-term satisfaction.”
“Sounds like post-nut regret,” the blond guy next to Cameron chimed in with a chuckle.
“Bluntly, yeah.” Cameron joined in the laughter. “I was just trying to say it in a safe-for-work way.”
“Topic for a different class,” I quipped back to more laughter and then returned my attention to Cameron. “Anything else?”
“I think I’m done.”
“Thank you. That was enlightening.” My lips quirked. He appeared to be a blend of both smart-ass and smarts, which I could appreciate. “With availability bias, one thing to keep in mind is how much weight we give to these readily available options and whether they truly align with our values and goals. But let’s put a pin in that topic for now. We’ll revisit it later in the semester and see how it holds up.” I glanced down at my watch. “I think that’s about enough for today. See you Thursday.”
After class dismissed,I headed back to my office to return a missed call from my agent.
“Grady, hey, how are you? Did you get my message?” Cooper always sounded like he’d done a line before answering the phone. It’d thrown me off when we’d first started working together. He’d been the only agent who seemed interested in my take on decision biases and behavior patterns, and I’d been initially skeptical that it would even sell, but he’d gotten me a deal with Horizon Press sooner than I’d expected. He was both insightful and frank about what I considered my life’s work so far. “I got the message. I was going to pretend ignorance until you started harassing me, though, and, well, here we are.”
He chuckled amiably. “So, you’ll be able to work that chapter in expeditiously?”
“How expeditiously?” I didn’t disagree with the editor’s idea to slot in an expanded chapter on decision fatigue, but I was racking my brain trying to figure out how to turn it around quickly and where to start. I needed a hook, and so far, I hadn’t come up with anything provocative.
“A couple of weeks, three tops? They’re still keen on publishing in September, and they’re wanting to start booking promo soon. I told them no problem because I know you’re good for it. I’ll have some proofs and covers for you by then, too.”
Fuck. I was going to have to ramp up my research. “I can do it, no problem,” I assured him, determined not to let this opportunity slip through my fingers due to a random hookup temporarily scrambling my brain. It’d be stupid not to with the deal I had on the line. I’d just have to make the time.
“Good. Let me know when you’ve got something. The press is gonna eat you up. You’re nerdy enough to be relatable, hot enough that I could see the PR department pushing for talk show spots.”
I stiffened reflexively, thinking about my recent clandestine—and uncharacteristic—encounter, then forced myself to relax. I’d done nothing wrong. A consensual hookup in a club bathroom wasn’t a scandal, and there was no way whoever was on the other side of the wall had seen me. He’d probably already forgotten the encounter, even if I hadn’t, even if I was more than a little curious about who had been standing on the other side of the wall. I’d racked my brain trying to remember any defining characteristics, but I’d been too flustered with arousal. I hadn’t forgotten his touch by a long shot, though, or the confident, firm glide of his hand on me.
Cooper cleared his throat. “So we’re all set, then? Three weeks max?”
“Three weeks max,” I confirmed, pushing thoughts of my stranger aside and coming back to the present. “I’ll let you know as soon as I’ve got it drafted.”