The unnamed narrator observes with interest the rocky relationships of his friends, particularly the relationship between the married couple Ben and Lil. Lil is constantly adopting new approaches to life presented to her by her environment, though she finds herself eventually disappointed by them all. Although both Ben and Lil have therapists and are highly- educated in terms of psychological, political, and social theories, they cannot seem to sort out their issues. They separate. Lil initiates a reconciliation, but when Ben goes to sleep with her, he has trouble performing. Lil finds it funny and he slaps her, causing them to go their separate ways again.

Lil spends more time with Marsha, who is married to Larry, who happens to be one of Lil's old boyfriends. Marsha hosts a party at her house, which the narrator attends in the hopes of convincing Lil to sleep with him. A couple who are setting up a couples therapist business named Murray and Lisa are there also. Murray suggests a game to explore the psychology of the group. Lil does not enjoy it. A newcomer to the group named Tibby, who is the girlfriend of a man named Merle, is especially forthright with her thoughts. The narrator takes Lil home, but she falls asleep before the can have sex. The narrator tells Ben this.

Ben and Lil get back together. They have decided they want a baby, but Lil is unhappy with the way been is viewing having a baby. Merle runs into Lil, who tells him that she wants a baby, but she just broke up with Ben again. They end up in bed together, but Lil is too focused on her desire to give birth to really sleep with him. Tibby and Merle break up. Merle feels strange about it because Larry is his brother and Lil is Larry's ex. Tibby and Ben start dating. Merle and Lil stop dating, then Tibby and Ben break up. Ben and Lil end up back together and the narrator sleeps with Tibby,.