Dear Dr. Date,

I’m a single sophomore at the U and have been dating around with great success. Problem is, I’m constantly bugged by this one guy who won’t leave me alone. Apparently most people don’t even remember the people they went to orientation with, but I’m doomed to be reminded of him particularly every day. 

See, when I went to orientation, there was this guy there with the same last name as a distant relative of mine. It’s not a super common name, but common enough to where I figured it was a coincidence, so I jokingly mentioned if he knew said family member. He told me that guy was his dad, and we had that awkward “oh hey, you’re probably related to me then” thing that you deal with at family reunions. My family doesn’t really contact extended family often so I figured I wouldn’t see him again other than the awkward campus run-in now and again.

Except this guy decided to take it upon himself to get my number from a relative instead. He’s been texting me since school started. I wouldn’t mind a ton normally, but I think he’s hitting on me. I doubted it at first (we’re related!) but he literally texted me “Hey I just got Netflix in my apartment, wanna come over and chill?” Every week he tries to get me to come over or go out with him, saying “We’re only probably related, right?”

I don’t know what to do. He’s super insistent and I’m worried he’s going to tell my mom I won’t sleep with my second cousin. Help!

Sincerely,

Incest isn’t wincest

Dear Incest Isn’t Wincest,

EWWWWWWW. It may be legal in Georgia (and Colorado) to marry your cousin, but dating anyone related to you (even if it’s your second cousin) is just weird. At least you don’t have to do the awkward meeting the parents thing? 

It sounds like this guy won’t take no for an answer, so you might have to actually get family involved. Call your parents and ask them about him, maybe come up with a few family blackmail stories you can hold against him. If that doesn’t work, dig your heels in and call his parents. I’m sure his mom would be thrilled to find out that her son wants to sleep with his cousin. 

Sincerely,

Dr. Date