When the uncertainty grew too uncomfortable, I broke the silence. "Okay, we have got to talk. Here's what I suggest: I tell you everything I did to and with Sara. You tell me the same thing about what you did with Peter. Then you tell me what you were feeling at the time, and what you're feeling now. Then I do the same. If we are still happy after all that, we figure out why we are so happy, and what we do next." Erika nodded at me. Suddenly, we were both pretty afraid. Could we take this, sober and alone?

I started, describing in greater detail than I had...