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Show All the Variables & Other Love Stories 67 jokes. He winked at her as though they shared a scandal and persisted in his affection. Zach invited her to dinner, for walks, for movies in his room. Cara would not be fooled. She was seasoned in trite maneuvers. Her third lover was the complicated one. She met him as a sophomore in an acting class. He was brooding, sensitive, inquisitive, and, sure, beautiful. His tactics were similar to Zach's, sincere if unoriginal. She repelled him six months before she allowed him buy her dinner. She threw herself with a fury into his love. But it couldn't go on this way, he said, he needed his independence. He wanted her to entertain other men to make him feel less guilty; he wanted to continue seeing her, too, he loved her. Cara, feeling unsophisticated for wanting an exclusive relationship, had agreed to the arrangement. But she knew when she returned to Salt Lake City she was done with it, no last row for old time's sake. Zach's knee felt better the next day and she couldn't get rid of him. The snow was packed dense and Zach was a faster skier than she. He followed up and down the mountain charming as ever and unmarred by her refusals. "You know there's a lot about me you don't know," he said. "You think you do, but you don't." "I'm sure that's true." "Yeah, like did you know I want to have a family someday? I plan on being a responsible family man. Sure, I was crazy as a kid, but a guy grows up. He discovers what's important. I respect women a lot." She did not flinch. "A lot," he insisted. He thought a while and changed tactics. "Look, why not stop for lunch at the lodge. I know you don't believe anything I say and you got good reason. Let me explain myself and you can decide if I'm full of it." |