As we lay here in bed afterwards, I feel guilty, I'm not sure why, but I'm compelled to say the first thing that comes to my mind.

"I've done this before."

"No kidding," she says with a laugh.

"No," I answer with a laugh of my own, "I mean, I've ended up in bed after helping move a mattress."

"Oh, what were the circumstances?" she asks, and I realize I really shouldn't have brought the subject up.

"Oh boy," I say, stalling.

"Come on, you can't start telling me this story and then just drop it."

"OK, but maybe you better let me get dressed first."

"Why?

"Because, you'll probably want to throw me out after you hear the story, and I'd rather have my clothes on if you do, thank you very much."

"Go on, I promise, even if I feel like throwing you out afterwards, I let you get dressed first. For now, just snuggle up a little closer and tell me the story."

"Well it was back in Baltimore, I guess it's been nearly ten years now. I had a date with this medical examiner I'd been trying to convince to see me for a while. I'd told anyone who would listen that she and I were made for each other, and I was definitely turning over a new leaf for her. Well, I show up at her place with flowers for the date, and I discover that she's just taken in an attractive policewoman as a roommate. Her roommate, who is in the process of moving in, tells me that Alyssa is going to be a few hours late. Serena, that's the roommate, asks me to help her move her mattress into her bedroom."

"And one thing led to another?" Olivia asks.

"Yeah," I admit.

"So what about your date with Alyssa?"

"I had a fit of conscience in time to get dressed and be waiting for her when she got there."

"So she never found out?"

"No, she did."

"How? Did the roommate tell her?"

"No, after about a week of avoiding Alyssa because I felt guilty, I came clean about it."

"What happened?" Olivia asks, her brown eyes big with delight.

"She socked me, gave me a really impressive shiner."

"Served you right, screwing her roommate. I'd have probably aimed a little lower," she says with a laugh.

I just grin but refrain from commenting.

"Did she ever forgive you?" she asks.

"Yeah, we went out for a while, but it just didn't work out, but it wasn't because of that first infidelity of mine." I admit.

"What was it?" she asks, she seems truly curious.

"I don't know, we just sort of ran out of whatever it is that makes people want to be together."

"You're afraid that'll happen again, with us, aren't you?"

"Yes, but it's more than that with you."

"What?" she asks, and I notice how totally free of guile she is.

"If you and me run out of whatever that is, I don't ever want us to run out of being friends."

She smiles at me and then straddles my body looking down into my unguarded eyes.

"I hope we never run out of whatever it take to make us want to be together as lovers John, but even if we do. I know I'll always be your friend."

I feel my heart swell inside me and tears threaten to fall, but she stops them when she says, "Now, how about we finish making the bed and try the lovemaking all over again?"