DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend and I have been dating casually for about five months. He is busy and is often terrible about returning texts and phone calls. For his birthday, I bought him a gift that I had put a lot of thought into. We made plans to have dinner on his birthday, but when the time came to pick me up, he didn't show. Three hours after the agreed-upon time, he texted and canceled.
My question is about the gift. It wasn't extravagant, but I no longer have any interest in giving it to him when we do finally see each other (it's been a week since he canceled). Is it acceptable to simply pay for dinner? I'm hurt and frustrated with him, and that doesn't make me want to give him a gift. -- HURT IN TEXAS
DEAR HURT: If he had wanted to spend his birthday with you, he would have shown up. One of the ways people show they care about each other is by returning texts and initiating phone calls. Because your "boyfriend" hasn't done that, assume that he is not as interested in you as you are in him. Return the gift, if possible, and if he shows up again, do not buy the dinner. Shame on him.