Strangely, though these words might have been delivered with venom, Stephanie's tone was more curious than coarse.

Tired of fiddling with my torn button-up, I removed it and sat down on the couch. "It started a few years ago," I said.

Slowly, Stephanie nodded. She sat down in the opposite chair. "And you guys just kept at it?"

"No," I said. "I stopped when we moved in together."

"I always thought there was someone else," she said. "I could feel it. Feel there was part of you elsewhere. But you're saying you haven't?"

"No," I said. Part of me was ashamed, it's true, but part of me was so relieved...