Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man

He’s sport fishing, and in her heart, she knows this. But she’s
still trying to hang in there and see if he’s going to do right by
her. Any woman in this situation should just leave that guy
alone. Instead of investing all this time and energy in a man
who can’t and won’t live up to your expectations, let that guy
walk. And then when the next man comes along, take control
and let him know your ground rules up front (see my chapter
“Men Respect Standards—Get Some”): “I don’t take phone
calls after 10 P.M., because my kids are asleep and I’m getting
my rest”; “I appreciate a man who shows up when he says he’s
going to show up and calls when he’s going to be late”; and “I
don’t have sex with anyone until I’m sure that we are in a seri-
ous, committed relationship—no casual sex for me” are all ac-
ceptable ground rules for any man coming at you. If those
ground rules are too much for him, he’s going to walk away
because he’s sport fishing.
If, however, he has something going for himself, and he
knows that in order to complete his life he needs a woman who
has something going for herself, he’s going to stick around and
keep the conversation going. That’s the man who is willing to
put in work—who knows that he’s not going to just romance
you, get what he wants, and walk away. That guy right there?
He’s your man. He’s fishing for a keeper, and after he’s proven
himself worthy of your time, then you can let him take you on
home, fillet you, put some cornmeal on you, fry you up, and
serve you up on a delicious plate.