"Then we won't rush, if that's how you want to do it." She didn't want to wait, but that was how Mary always was. How else could she express her affection and friendship if not through sex? But then maybe that was the whole reason everything fell apart for her. Sex was a large part of who she was, but it complicated things.

"But..." she added after a moment, now worrying about the idea. "You do still want me? You're still attracted to me, aren't you?"