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I’ve been dumped a lot

Not that I’m devastated I mean, do I even want to be with a rew up dirt poor I struggled to make ends meet all my life, scrie In a few short ree in social work, leave the Olive, and hopefully get a perency

So, really, I don’t need a boyfriend right now Once I finish school, sure, ain But for now, I’ someone like Tony Burke in my life

Tony is a travel writer who spends eleven and a halfabout them He comes back to New York two or three times a year, and I met him on one of his rare visits home when he stopped in for a drink at the Olive We instantly hit it off Wound up in bed the night we’d hts of my year

Tony flies into town, he calls me, we have sex Then we both return to our busy lives, sexually sated and eain—until the next time Tony pops up in the city

The last time I saw him was over the holidays, and since it’s already May, I was expecting him to call any day now Like clockwork, he had Just three hours ago, with his hotel roo sex

“Make fun of me all you want, Trish, but we both know you’re jealous,” I say good-naturedly

“It’s true I’d give ht arm for a Tony” She makes a face “Instead, I have a Lou”

“Aw, be nice Lou kisses the ground you walk on”

“Yeah, when he’s not watching football Do yourself a favor, Mags Never date a oons chase a ball around a field than talk to his girlfriend”

I laugh Truthfully, I’ve always thought the leggy brunette could do a lot better than Lou Gertz, the high school football coach slash couch potato But whether Trisha just has bad taste inaround in the singles pool, my friend’s love life only reaffirms my belief that relationships are too much of a hassle

“Looks like Tony has some competition,” Trisha quips

I shiftat est fan awaits,” I say dryly “And by the way, he heard you snickering when he co skills”

Trisha snorts “He called you a ballerina of the bar He was asking for a snicker”