Racket or romance?

My boyfriend’s not at all romantic so he shocked the life out of me when he asked what I wanted to do next Wednesday night (being Valentines Day). I said that I have my tennis finals, so could we make it another night? He said no, he said I either go that night or not at all! What do you think I should do? Jo

Sounds like your boy is employing the sneaky but effective If-I-Make-Myself-Look-Good-She-Won’t-Be-Able-to-Rouse-On-Me-for-Not-Doing-Valentine’s-Day tactic. He’s pretending to be up for it, but is secretly stoked the tennis finals have clashed with a day most men consider hell on earth. Gooey cards, fluffy toys, declaring their devotion – it’s right up there with dining at the in-laws’ place and working on a Sunday. Your boy knows you’ll be torn between tennis or him, and probably hopes you’ll opt for tennis, leaving him to enjoy a quiet night on the couch with a six-pack and the latest episode of Border Security. So play tennis. Let him have his couch time. In fact, let him assume he has won the V Day battle, hands down. Until Friday, when you’ll announce nonchalantly that you’re busy – playing wing-girl for your single workmates who are all keen on a post-V Day pick-up pub crawl. More couch time for him, only this time he’ll have the green-eyed monster breathing down his neck as he wonders what mischief you’re up to. After all, everyone knows the wing-girl gets chatted up more than the ones on the pull, right? Ha! Ha!
Love, reality chick