Phil scoffs, but the gesture's turned inwards. "Ask, for one f--one thing, and not lie? Work up to it? Talk to them and get to know them as a person beyond a name to cross off? Make my intentions obvious, see if the attraction's mutual and back off if it isn't. Only go for people I actually care about in some capacity and not just a pretty face. Make sure we both know where the boundaries are. I mean--basic stuff, right?"

Look, he hasn't done flings in decades. All the things he has practice in are stuff he's thrown out.