“I’ve made the list,” Jane said matter-of-factly—a reply Annie had expected. “It didn’t help much. In fact, once I started making the list, it kept getting longer and longer.”

Despite a tightening in her stomach, Annie kept her voice steady. “I’m sure that, if you show me the list, I can delete a few items from it straightaway.”

“No, Annie, that’s not the point at all. The point is that it’s my list, my issues, my problems that need solving. They’re not for you to dismiss with your typical Annie-ness.”

“I hope that by that you mean my optimism.”

“The gist of it…” Jane’s voice had shot up a bit. “Is that because of this business with Kristin, and me not being able to write, and… some other things… it has made me feel like I’m not enough. Like I’m not holding up my end of the bargain in our relationship and this has led you to develop feelings for someone else.”

Annie shook her head. “I’m sorry you feel that way. Like I said, I never meant to hurt you. None of this is down to you. It’s my fault.”

Jane shook her head. “How can you even say that? Besides, it’s hardly a matter of fault. And of course it has to do with me. When it has to do with us, it has to do with me. I just… I wonder if I hadn’t been so reluctant to, er, have sex lately, maybe you wouldn’t have started fantasizing about another woman.”

“Come on, babe. Every book you write is basically you fantasizing about another woman. Having a fantasy about someone else is hardly being unfaithful.”

Jane scoffed. “That is the worst comparison ever.”

“Well, then I must have misunderstood.”

“You must have. Or I must have not made myself clear again.”

“You made yourself perfectly clear.” Annie knew she was contradicting herself, but this was hard. Having this kind of conversation with Jane could be so frustrating because of Jane’s tendency to retreat into self-pity. Annie took a deep breath. “You did not drive my thoughts in the direction of someone else, just like I was not responsible for you kissing Beth Walsh. Human emotions are much too complex for this simple cause-and-effect explanation.”

“Why then?” Jane blurted out.

“Why? Because I’m human, I guess. Or because of pheromones or hormones or whatever science has available to explain this. I don’t know how to explain it and I don’t really see the need for it either. But if it’s your ego that needs placating, I’m happy to oblige.” A rush of memories washed over Annie, punctuated by the image of Jane and Beth face-to-face a few weeks ago. “But please don’t forget, I’ve been in your situation, and I was much worse off than you are now.”