“That’s sweet.”

“So I brought him back to my room that night, and after we slept together, he cried . . .”

“He cried?”

“Yes, and said, ‘Thank you ssssso much.’ ”

Anna laughed and said, “So he wasn’t gay.”

“No, he was just enthusiastic, and a crier, and for one night, at the very least, he’d made me feel like Patty Hearst.”

Neither of us said anything. I felt I had revealed too much.

“Philip never cries. I don’t know if he even has tear ducts.”

I asked how they had met. Anna sighed and said, “It’s not interesting. Not like you and your husband.”

“Oh, come on.”

“He bought me. Basically, I was for sale.”

“What? Were you a prostitute?” She didn’t blink at my inappropriate question.

“No, I was poor. And he was anything but. And he wore me down. Philip is, if anything, persistent. And persuasive.”

We had so much left to talk about, but my cell phone vibrated. It was Tim.

“I’m on my way,” I told him. I flipped my phone closed and signaled for the check.

“Gotta run,” I said. “Dinner’s ready.”

“So he cooks?”

“He boils noodles and heats up sauce . . .”

“Still.”

When the check came, Anna wanted to pay. “No,” I said, putting down my credit card, “it’s on me.”

Outside, we said our good-byes and headed off in separate directions.

Turning back, Anna called out, “Maybe you’ll come for dinner sometime.”

I said, “Yes, we’d like that.” And I thought, It can’t be soon enough.

JEFF SLADE

I HOPE I’VE GOT THE RIGHT NUMBER. KATE? KATE OLIVER? IT’S SLAKOWITZ. JEFF Slakowitz. Did you know I changed my name? They made me. I go by Jeff Slade. But I’m still the same old Slakowitz. I don’t know when we last talked. Was it your wedding? I hope you remember me, Kate Oliver. Because I’ll never forget you. This machine is probably going to cut me off. Hey, remember your theory that in order to be famous, you need to have a big head? Well, you’ll never guess what—

As I was saying, remember your theory about bigheaded famous people? Well, you were right. Because Jay Leno’s head is huge. The head of a bulldog. I just taped Leno. I’m on Leno tonight. It airs tonight. [Pause.] Damn, you probably don’t even have a TV. You always hated TV. Did you know that I’ve got my own series? ABC. Sunday nights. Look, I got some more calls to make. But I just wanted you to know—

Cut me off again. I’m just going to have to talk faster, aren’t I? [Laughs.] I heard you have kids—two, how great is that? Kate, I’m proud of my new show. It’s very family. One more thing—I’m on at the very end of Leno. And I talk about you. What am I saying? I’m talking about you when I’m talking at the end. [Pause.] Hey,greattalking. Hopeyou’rewell. It’s great you have kids. Oh, and, of course, please say hey to Tom.