[ he was so FORTHCOMING before. why the silence now? was it something she...?

oh.

oh, jeez. ]

That wasn't -- I didn't -- I wasn't commenting on...

Wow. Believe me, I was not trying to say anything about who you do your thing with...just how long between you...yeah. There's no way I can say this that doesn't sound awful.

[ so the truth comes out all in a rush: ] There's a guy. And I'm dating him. And he kinda...courted me, I guess. For a year. I'm talking a full calendar year. As in four months times three. And I guess I never considered it was a big deal and all 'cause...

But it was a big deal, wasn't it?

[ THAT'S ALL SHE WAS ASKING ABOUT. ]