My ex had an ex when we met. In fact, when our mutual "friend" told me that he had given Levi my number (that's why friend is in quotes) he described Levi as "practically divorced."

I remember being very put off by that, and the look on my face must have given this away, because Todd (the friend) quickly went into damage control mode. Telling me that he's known them for a long time, they were definitely done, etc.

My ex and his first ex have a kid together also. They have a little girl, an eight-year-old. It's pretty tough to get involved with a man who has an ex and a kid, its even tougher when it's this ex, let me tell you.

She was invasive and obnoxious right from the start. We all lived in the same small town, and Michelle (the first ex) loves talking. In fact, I think she may have some kind of rare disease in which if she shuts her mouth for more than five minutes, she dies. I don't know, but it certainly seems that way.

Anyway, the gossip was ridiculous. She labeled me a "husband stealer," even though she had a string of her own boyfriends. She would call and harass Levi incessantly. She would scream things like, "My tits are better than hers" and so on. She harped on the fact that I was young.

I remember during one of these instances, with Michelle on the phone screaming about me, I said, "Enough. I'm going home." I was in my car getting ready to leave when Levi asked me to stay and talk to him.

I remember exactly what he said to me. He said, "I like you, I really like you, I like you a lot" then, "Do you like me a lot?" and I said yes. He went on to say that he knew she was a pain in the ass, and although he couldn't promise that she'd stop calling, he'd make sure she stopped coming over. Did I mention that she'd just pop by in the morning and let herself into the office? Yeah. Invasive and obnoxious.

However, through the course of our relationship — mine and Levi's — Michelle calmed down, we became friendly and everything was cool. Then it got nuts again, then it got friendly again, until Levi and I were over.

Now Michelle is back at it, but this time it's different. It seems that she can't get over being in competition with me. The new competition is, whose relationship with Levi was more "real" or "significant." The only way she measures this is by time, and she and Levi's relationship lasted longer, so, to her, she wins.

To me, I could care less. I mean, its not like were talking about a prize husband here. Her second thing is the kid thing. Whose kid is he paying attention to? The answer to that again, is hers. To that, I say, too bad for her.

The thing that's really a shame here is that Michelle and I live close to one another, her daughter and my son are brother and sister, yet due to Levi's manipulations they don't know one another.

It's sad, but sometimes I look to Michelle to find my strength, for I am so glad that I am not her. For I am so glad that I am not that stuck on Levi.