Ask about Victoria’s personal problems

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“I’m still trying to understand what’s happening, why things keep going off the rails. Since you’ve been through it, were you able to pin down what her problem is?”

“Buddy, I’ve asked myself that a thousand times. Pride and denial. She is driven and blinded by both. Have you ever tried to give her some helpful criticism?”

“Yeah. That never turns out well.”

“Especially if she knows it’s true. She simply cannot allow herself to be inferior to others. She will twist logic inside out to keep herself in the right.”

“Riiiight. Yeah! If we talk about her in anything other than positive terms, he reacts so strongly that I start to doubt myself. I feel insane. Was it like that for you?"

“What was it like for me? Oh... 'whiplash' is a good word for it.”

I agree quickly to keep him going. “It’s always hot and cold, especially when she quaffs a few bottles of wine...”

He scoffs. “For all the things she is in denial of—and there are a lot—her drinking and smoking habits rank near the top. Buddy, those fights were the worst. One night we were having a great date downtown until she told me off during dessert and left the restaurant drunk and angry, insisting on walking herself home. It was at least ten miles from her place, in heels. When she wouldn’t answer my calls, I drove the streets for an hour, worried sick. She finally graced me by answering the phone and accepting the ride offer and she told where to meet her. She was smoking her American Spirits in the fucking bar across the street from the restaurant. When I got there, I saw that she’d already had at least three more drinks, probably bought by the dudes around her.”

“That’s a shitty date. But you found her... Did she make it up to you?”

“Yeah, no. Not that night. She promised to, but we had two more fights before morning. She didn’t remember much of it.”

“I guess it’s fortunate that I don’t have a story quite that crazy.”

“I swear... even the bartender gave me a knowing look like... like he’s seen her do this to other men before... and I was just the latest sucker. Don’t be the next one, Perry.”

“I hope not.”

“The worst part—I’m not proud to say this—I was close to hitting her once or twice... I never did, but that is a hell of a place to find yourself. I’ve never felt pushed like that before or since. There was no fucking way I could have a kid with her... Has she brought that up yet?”

“No... Well not overtly anyway,” I amend. This sounds too interesting to let pass. “Is it a bigger deal than she is letting on?”

The sigh Terrence lets out is so loud I can hear his chest rumble. “Yes. Yes. Yes. Toward the end, the topic was working it’s way into the subtext of every fight. That’s the straw that broke the spell for me. I was deluded enough to fuck crazy, but I wasn’t about to have a kid with it. While I was trying to break up with her, she was still arguing for a baby, stability be damned.”

“Oh shit.”

“If you are sensing some hints from her now, trust me that you are seeing an iceberg. No offense, Perry, you are probably a great guy, but you should be aware that... she might be seeing you as a tool. Don’t trust her on this topic. She might be **** enough to deceive you in any number of ways in order to get you on the hook with a pregnancy. If you are too much of a nice guy, she might set that hook so deep your ass will feel it.

“Yeah, I’m not the guy for kids.”

“Then get out while you can. I’ve got to go now. I’ve done my duty. I’m not your social worker so don’t call me again. Now I pass the baton to you to warn the next poor sucker.”

{else}Play in game mode.{endif}