Yep, after a certain point we can't count on anything.
As you know, I'm grappling with the same sort of thing with Mr. A - he gives me a glimmer of hope, I grab it, and then he dashes it away. And then he parades it out in front of me once again, and the whole circus starts over.
Not meaning to hijack, BA. But I don't think much harm (other than personal emotional fallout) can come of us being "generous" to our (x)life partners. In other words, you can know with relative certainty that you'll never look back at taking the high road now and say: "Oh, I really wish I had shi**ed on that bi*ch when I had the chance!"
Now help me remember my own advice when it comes to Mr. A!
ORRRRRRR.... tell me straight-up that I am naive and delusional.
P.S. Thoroughly enjoying my own string of emoticons!