Chapter 4: The OTHER Reason

"Adrian, I seriously don't know what is going through that head of yours. First, you kiss me, and now you're begging me to drop Benjy off and go to your apartment with you, where we'll be completely alone," Sharona related. "I'm not sure I'm comfortable with this."

"Sharona, it's just me," Monk laughed nervously. "What do you have to worry about?"

"That's just it. I have no clue what is wrong with you. You're acting like a normal man, which is a very bad thing, because most men are womanizing pigs." Sharona had obviously not had the most success in the dating world, and most of the men she dated were perverts. She in no way wanted Monk to end up that way, too. He was sweet and kind, and aside from being really weird at times, was just the type of man she wanted to end up with.

"I can assure you that I will never be like that," Monk said, and she knew he was telling the truth. But just what the hell was going through his mind?

"Damn," Sharona muttered to herself, completely baffled by his recent behavior. They remained silent the remainder of the trip to his apartment, but thoughts were babbling away in both their heads.

'Why did I kiss her? I didn't even expect to do that. That was completely irrational behavior.'

'Have I gone totally insane? I want him to kiss me again. I want to kiss him. Well, if I have gone crazy, at least I know I've found someone who'll accept me.' Sharona quietly chuckled to herself at that last thought, something that didn't go unnoticed by Monk.

'She thinks I've gone bonkers. Lost all my marbles. And who can blame her? I acted so…impulsively. I'm not impulsive! But I couldn't wait any longer. I just had to see what it was like, what she'd do. And that kiss. It was unbelievable. But I shouldn't give in. I'm a married man.'

"No, Adrian, you're not," he said softly to himself.

"You're not what?" Sharona asked him curiously.

"Uh…" he stammered. 'Think, Adrian!' he ordered himself. 'I'm not sure, I'm not wearing a blazer…oh, God, I'm going to need that cleaned ASAP.'

"Forget it," Sharona mumbled, remembering what it was about him that drove her nuts.

They were suddenly at his apartment, and Sharona shut off the car and turned to Monk. "Alright, we're here. Can you tell me why you dragged me out here now?"

"No. Not yet," he responded, getting out of her station wagon with a handkerchiefed hand. Sharona followed his lead and stepped out of her side, slamming the door before following him to his apartment.

Sharona retrieved his mail for him and they retreated inside. As she set the pile of envelopes on the table and he arranged them by size, she asked, "Now can you tell me what was so important?"

He avoided her gaze by pretending to be interested in his mail. "Uh, well, I just wanted to say, uh, wow, is that a new stamp? I have to check that out…"

"Adrian," Sharona said, annoyed. "You can't avoid me forever." He continued to shuffle through his mail, and she finally came over and lightly set her fingertips on his cheek. He looked up at her fearfully. "Why'd ya kiss me, Adrian?"

He let her fingers linger on his cheek for a second longer, then pulled away. "I-I thought you were going to kiss me, but then you didn't, and…and I couldn't hold back," he burst out. "I was just so curious what it would be like to really kiss you. But I-I can't do that anymore."

"Why not?" Sharona asked softly. He looked at her curiously, and she shrugged and made that face she always made when she didn't want to admit to liking something. "I…I thought it was a nice kiss." She turned away from him, now being the one to sort through his mail. "And…and maybe I wouldn't mind if you did it again."

"Really?" Monk asked breathlessly. He had never expected Sharona to come out and say that, because he knew how much she hated admitting when he was right. But now that she had…what was he going to do?

"Yeah," she was saying, drawing him out of his thoughts. "I've never seen you so impulsive, and it was kind of a nice change."

"But, but," he stammered, "being impulsive is…bad. Things are supposed to be planned."

Sharona rolled her eyes. "Your entire job as a detective revolves around people being impulsive. I mean, sure, some people plan murders, but most people just do it in the heat of the moment. That's the entire point of living. To do things impulsively, to live for the moment. What's the fun of life otherwise?"

"Life isn't supposed to be fun," Monk stated. He started pacing around his living room, and Sharona followed him with her eyes. "Everything should be planned out in advance. Otherwise…things can go wrong."

"Things can go wrong even if you do have it planned in advance," Sharona insisted. "Life is unpredictable. You have to realize that."

"I do realize that," he muttered. "I realized it when I discovered that I wanted to kiss you again. And again. I realized it when I discovered I want to hold you and never let you go. I want you to be my prom queen, Sharona."

He finally turned to look at her and saw that she had a slight smile on her face.

"I want that, too, Adrian," she said softly. "I want to be your prom queen."