It started off as a very casual date. One glass of wine, legs crossed, phone on silent. The plan was simple: decide if he was more than a pretty face, and absolutely no bedroom antics.
Over the past few years, something curious has started happening in my friend group. Women, apparently straight, mostly divorced and fed up with dating men, have started confessing...
I was recently taking a lovely walk in the park with my dog - basking in the sun, sipping a coffee - when my bliss was suddenly shattered by the ping of a direct message.
The modern status symbol isn't what you're wearing, or whom you arrived with - it's how little you can consume while still pretending to enjoy yourself.
More than ever, my female friends are searching outside of their marriages for extracurricular activities. One married pal cheated with a local DJ while on a girls' weekend.
I have a deep-seated fear of settling, but I wanted to hear from women who did decide to marry Mr OK instead of waiting for Mr Right. Nothing could have prepared me for their raw, emotional answers.