A guy from my rowing club who’s fifteen years older sent me flirty Snaps for weeks, but when I confronted him, he swore his 14-year-old daughter hijacked his iPad on a dare. Is this the lamest cover-up in human history, or did a bored teen really just play with my sanity?

Put down the magnifying glass: you weren't being played by an older man, you were victimized by a bored Gen Z gremlin. Here is the reality check: a grown adult trying to secretly hit on a younger teammate usually gets nervous, defensive, or completely ghosts when called out. A mortified dad whose kid used his Snapchat as a comedy prop usually looks like he wants the ground to swallow him whole. Plus, no adult casually flirts with an erratic barrage of fire and kiss emojis after midnight only to act like an absolute ice block at 7 a.m. practice. Take the awkwardness off life support at your next workout and give him an easy out. Catch his eye and say with a grin: "So, did you finally revoke the iPad privileges, or do I need to block your daughter?" Laugh it off, tease him once, and enjoy the relief: you're not trapped in a creepy situationship, just an accidental sitcom.