Reigniting old flame

Dear Annie: An acquaintance from my past (1983) contacted me in July 2019 after searching for and finding me on social media. We have been speaking on and off since then, but he now calls me every day (sometimes two times a day) and says he’s making travel plans to come see me.

He lives in Canada, and I live in Massachusetts. Back in 1983, he begged me to sleep with him knowing I was dating his best friend who introduced us but was out of town at the time. Shocked and blindsided by his request, I caved under his pressure and acquiesced. I then slept with him on a second occasion. His friend — my boyfriend — was still overseas, and I couldn’t tell if he had intentions to return.

This acquaintance has yet to visit me, and he has ghosted me a number of times over the past three years, about three or four. Should I even entertain the idea of seeing him, let alone thinking there could be anything more? I’m divorced; my children are grown; and I haven’t entertained any male company for the past 14 years. All this time, I’ve just been tending to my family and have just started to return to work, accepting temp assignments as they are offered to me. — Skeptical

Dear Skeptical: I wouldn’t hold your breath on this guy. People can change, but his flagrant flakiness doesn’t suggest that he’s suddenly sprouted a sense of integrity.

Instead, try to set up an online dating profile to meet men in your area. Now that you’re an empty nester, it’s a good time to get back out there.

Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. To find out more about Annie Lane and read features by other Creators Syndicate columnists and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.