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really.”
    “Most guys, they don’t know how to treat a lady.”
    Claudia was surprised when that first date led to a second, then a third, until finally they were a real couple. She couldn’t believe how pliable she was around Mike, how they never argued about anything. He wasn’t particularly political or opinionated, but every now and then he’d come out with some stupid remarkabout commies or welfare moms, and she would just let it go. Why was she suddenly so easygoing? Because she was finally getting laid.
    Claudia didn’t have a boyfriend in high school, mostly because she towered over everyone. And the boys she hung out with in college didn’t appeal to her. With his muscular body and manly good looks, Mike was the first boy she felt sexually attracted to.
    Claudia was nervous the night she decided to lose her virginity, but Mike was as adept in bed as he was in a cheap Italian restaurant.
    “You sure you want to do it tonight?” Mike asked with a smile, confident that Claudia was ripe for the plucking.
    “Uh-huh,” said Claudia, enjoying the feeling of letting herself go, of letting someone else call the shots.
    Mike was gentle and affectionate but also strong and authoritative. Claudia couldn’t believe what she had been missing all those years.
    Some of her friends, on the other hand, couldn’t quite figure it out.
    “I don’t get what you see in that guy,” said her roommate, Barb. “He’s so … right-wing.”
    “Yeah, well, you’re not going to get it unless you sleep with him,” said Julie, who immediately understood the attraction.
    “Why don’t we all go out together one of these days?” suggested Barb.
    Claudia had been avoiding doing that for months, fearing that exposing the relationship to the outside world could be the end of it. But she could no longer hide Mike from the people who were most important to her.
    She decided they’d all meet for a drink at one of the loudest bars on campus, hoping that they could get drunk, shoot some pool, and avoid too much conversation. Everything was going fine, until Barb started getting mischievous.
    “So, Mike. Did you know that Claudia was once a member of the Socialist Party?”
    Claudia could feel her anger swelling. Why was Barb trying to sabotage her relationship with Mike? But then she caught herself. Barb was only being playful—and honest. Claudia was ashamed. Why was she suddenly so intent on hiding everything about herself? No, she didn’t like the feeling of being outed, but maybe Barb was right. Maybe she should just tell the truth.
    “Briefly,” said Claudia, smiling hopefully at Mike.
    “That’s all in the past, anyway,” said Mike. “Claudia’s a different girl now.”
    Barb and Julie looked at Claudia quizzically. Claudia looked at Mike.
    “What’s all in the past?” asked Claudia.
    “I know you used to be all liberal and stuff. I see the books on your shelf. But you’re not like that anymore.”
    “What makes you think that?” asked Claudia.
    “Well I’m pretty conservative, and we never argue. Right?”
    “Yeah, well, that’s just ’cause I want you to screw me.”
    Julie glanced at Barb, biting her lip. Barb stared down at her drink. And Mike looked like he was about to cry.
    “I’m sorry, Mike,” said Claudia. “That wasn’t nice.”
    “No, that’s fine,” said Mike. “I understand.” He stood up. “I think I’d better go now.” And he left.
    “Oh, God, Claudia, I’m so sorry!” said Barb. “This is all my fault.”
    “No, it’s okay. It had to happen.”
    She knew it did. But Claudia couldn’t help but feel she would never have sex again.
    Then she met Steve.
    Two years out of college, Claudia was working as a temp at a high-powered ad agency in Kansas City. She was ordered to go to Kinko’s, drop off a presentation to be copied, then pick it back upby five o’clock. When she arrived at Kinko’s at four forty-five, she was handed a big box of bound booklets. She flipped