John told Jane he had a meeting at headquarters. Jane told John she had an appointment that would take most of the afternoon. Both delivered the news…
Playful Escapades
Dry wit, domestic absurdity, and the occasional romantic plan that should have remained a draft.
We Arranged Secret Dates—and Met Each Other
Mike and Sally were bored with their evenings. Neither said this especially well. Instead, each privately decided that the missing excitement might be…
My Wife Changed Her Grooming. I Opened an Imaginary Investigation.
My wife, Emma, changed her intimate grooming. I noticed, wondered why, and then allowed a fairly ordinary observation to become a detective series with…
Frisky, Aroused, or Just “In the Mood”? Words for Desire
There are many ways to say you feel sexual desire. Some are clear, some are playful, and some make it sound as though you have developed a minor…
Ten Months Separated, and Still Finding New Ways to Complicate Dinner
Ten months after separating from my wife, I was still married on paper and becoming impatient with the paper. The relationship had ended after her…
Her Love Language Included Dinner Delivery. Mine Required a Conversation.
After a month of dating, Rachel told me I was not meeting her needs. I put down my coffee. This sounded like a conversation worth having before either…
The Woman at the Blackjack Table Was Not Married to Her Rings
At the blackjack table, I found myself talking to a woman wearing an impressive arrangement of rings on her left hand. I quietly placed her in the…
My Valentine’s Day Highlight Was a Tumbleweed
Valentine’s Day supplied several opportunities for me to mistake an ordinary interaction for a significant event. I managed most of them competently.
The Condom Box and the Investigation Nobody Requested
After a break, Emma and I were trying again. This should have involved discussing what had changed and what we wanted. Instead, I found a box of Magnum…
My Husband Turned My Workout Into a Spectator Sport
I like knowing that my husband finds me attractive. I like it slightly less when I am trying to complete a set at the gym and he appears to be…
I Stopped Drinking. My Friends Kept Offering Reviews of My Personality.
I stopped drinking because I disliked how I felt the next day. My wife knew. Most of our friends did not, largely because I did not feel my choice of…
Five Marriage Myths That Did Not Survive the Laundry
Fairytales tend to end at the wedding. This is a sensible editorial decision: several chapters about agreeing on a thermostat setting would slow the pace.