Teo knew this kind of question would eventually come up and was afraid to give the full answer lest it seems more like sympathy than anything else.  In order to fully answer, he would need to recount some of that night's activities and something that happened a long time ago.  He welcomed Sherrie into his home, and they sat on the black sofa that was pushed all the way against the back of the wall.  Then he thought for a second what to say and then began speaking.<br/><br/>"The night I met you, I was going to go completely over the edge.  Like, just start doing what I wanted to do.  Anything bad you can imagine, I decided I had the money to do it.  I was tired of my wife sleeping around; sometimes she would get violent.  I didn't want to live like that anymore.  When we talked it was hi, bye, here's some pie now get out of my face kind of a thing.<br/><br/>"Then we met; I thought great, I'm going to give this chick a night to remember and then I'll get up the next morning and do it with another girl for as long as I wanted.  Problem was ... you wanted more from me.  And, I wanted more from you.  That's why in between, I'd hold you and we would speak and talk.  I kept trying to convince myself it was just one night, the next day the feelings would be gone.  Then the next day came; and we spent some precious time in the morning as well.  Same feelings like I wish we were together for real; but then I remembered we both agreed previously it was just for some fun.<br/><br/>"So imagine my surprise when I returned to my car from checking out.  It wasn't exactly how I was envisioning our reunion, I just thought we would meet again in 20 years on a talk show or something.<br/><br/>"Then I met Carrie; and was reminded of Mary.  My sister.  I'm not really sure I want to talk about it other than her and I were best friends and well; something tragic happened to her that I can't fathom."  Teo looked off into space.  "And well, whenever I talk to Carrie - I see and hear Mary.  Similar personality, same bad ass temper.  Yet I loved Mary ... and I couldn't fix Mary.<br/><br/>"Maybe; maybe I thought I could fix Carrie.  Maybe I thought I could care for you and help you and Carrie.  Maybe I thought I could have the best of both worlds ... maybe I thought I needed closure with my sister.  It's still fuzzy to me to know exactly what I feel for Carrie.<br/><br/>"But I knew for sure that strong feelings developed about you when I didn't expect them to.  But I didn't have the courage to ask you out on another date; so I wimped out and gave you my phone number instead." Teo said.<br/><br/>"I didn't believe either Sherry or Carrie deserved prison or a psych ward or whatever; I know I lied about the whole thing.  And I know the risks involved ... lord I know what Mary was capable of.  I still want a shot to be with you, if you'll have me."<br/><br/>He reached out his hand to see if even after all he said, she would still take it.