Walking down Michigan Avenue together on a sunny, windy Saturday morning. It's February and it's so cold. I want to walk close to him. I want to lean into him, sharing private jokes, whispering private thoughts. But I stay a safe distance away from him. Afraid. He says something funny...I can't remember what it was now..and I reach over and grab his pinkie finger, wanting to clasp my hand around his and walk that way for the rest of the day.

I couldn't do it. I was afraid of coming off as romantic. We're just friends with benefits, right?