‘You’re so sweet,’ she said, as we separated. I left her apartment shortly after that. I know what you’re thinking: she was throwing herself a... you, idiot! Why didn’t you boff her brains out?! Not that easy. We’d spoken of love, and I could have proclaimed my undying devotion on the spot, but I’d been burned before. I needed time to think, and re-evaluate everything. A quickie was NOT worth the long-term devastation, not to me, not that evening. I saw her again the next day. All had apparently. I smiled saying “of course Jim, any time, just hand me the list and don’t worry about it”He said “but they need it ready today, so they could finish the work tomorrow morning and it is already getting late, I am afraid most of the hard stores are closed or about to close, I forgot all about it”I smiled saying “you can depend on me, it would be there on time, I promise, I will pick it up myself and deliver it to your house”He bent over, placed a soft kiss over my lips saying “I know I can always. I had just enough liquid courage earlier to make small talk. She said her name was Terry and she was tired of sitting around the apartment and looking for a little action. I informed her my name was Chris and was trying to think of some witty come back when she asked if I wanted to dance. We danced to a couple of songs before we headed back to the bar where I sucked down my beer and ordered us both another couple of rounds. My buddy Tim walked up and introduced himself and then said he'd gotten. "I'm happy for her. Say hello for me."Jack slapped my shoulder several times as if we, the parents, were the reason the team won. When he walked away, I rolled the window up and turned to Tara."We can't stay here. I need to take you home." Please don't. I wanna talk. Everything's fucked up." Tara!"Her eyes dropped to her lap. "Sorry. I didn't mean to curse. I'm just mixed up, that's all."She wiped a tear off her cheek and I knew I couldn't take her home. Her mother would want to know why she.