The Ex-Wife Read Free Page A

called Girlfriends: The Therapeutic Effect . He found my topic laughable until I began to explain. Women forgo the chance for true commitment and intimacy with each
     other, assuming that it can be found only in a marriage. My adviser was still quite perplexed as I continued. Men are completely
     incapable of giving women the amount of emotional security they seek. Women in turn beg, plead, and worry men to be something
     that they can never be, leaving themselves eternally unfulfilled. Finally my adviser began to let down his guard and smile.
    “Ayana, you’re right. I think this will be quite interesting, actually.”
    “When women get in relationships, they feel like their girlfriends are disposable. ‘Finally, now I can stop hanging out and
     just chill with my man.’”
    He laughed. “This is very true.”
    “That’s crazy. What is the shift in our brain that makes us believe that we can do without our girls now that we have a man?”
     I paused, hoping the concept would sink in. “Men don’t want to go to the mall. They don’t want to gossip. They don’t want
     to watch romantic comedies. Men don’t give up sports or beer when they get into relationships. So why do we give up our natural
     antidepressant? Real girlfriends?”
    He chuckled. “Ms. Blue, I’d like you to keep me posted. If your research is strong, I’ll approve the topic.”
    He approved it and offered to help me find a literary agent. I had never imagined myself as an author, but he encouraged me
     to turn my dissertation into a book. He found my research and recommendations profound. With the coaxing of my single-girl
     crew and my bestie/sister Aaliyah, I turned my research into a book titled Where My Girls At? I was offered a two-book deal from a major publishing house and had no clue what I could write as a second book. Then one
     of my good friends suggested that I write about how to be a good friend, because that was a skill not all women had.
    My first book talked about the importance of friends but didn’t give instructions. The sales for Where My Girls At? were nominal at best. A year later Girlfriend Confidential hit the shelves. My friends vowed that this one would not go down like the first. We had learned our lesson: getting the
     book on the shelves means absolutely nothing if no one knows anything about it. We all put our skills together and I had my
     own in-house publicity team. We sent press kits to every media outlet, every female organization, and every sorority, and
     attended every chick conference we could find. Girlfriend Confidential became the topic of discussion at hair salons, book clubs, and girl groups everywhere. Women began to deem me the relationship
     expert. I started to get e-mails from people asking for my advice on every aspect of their lives. I’d only had my PhD for
     a little over a year; how was I supposed to help all these people? I wasn’t ready for all this, but opportunity after opportunity
     came knocking at my door. The more speaking and workshop engagements I took on, the more popular I grew.
    Within eighteen months I was approached with an offer to host my own satellite radio show. I was offered an afternoon slot,
     from one to two. The time slot already had a listener base, primarily African-American women. The show would be named after
     my book: Girlfriend Confidential with Ayana Blue . I accepted the job.
    Before my first day on the air I was introduced to Quentin so we could map out the format of the show. He was a senior producer
     and had already designed a plan for success. On the first day he decided to have my girls in the studio with me. He felt that
     would give me an initial dose of confidence and he was right. Mandy, Cori, and my sister Aaliyah were there and it was just
     like a girls’ night out. With each phone call I became more relaxed. With each day I was more certain that this was where
     I was destined to be. My listeners needed me, my voice, and my advice.
    Now I