Neal exhales, a breath he didn't even know he was holding. For as smooth as he was, for as good as he did at talking himself into and out of any given scenario, sometimes he felt completely over his head. Neal loved having good things -- good people -- in his life, but he was terrible at keeping them.

Maybe this time, it would be different.

He feels the shift in their conversation -- they've passed that hurdle of the serious and heartfelt. They're okay. They'll be okay.

"That is a pretty big plus," he says with a laugh. "I mean, all that other stuff -- truth and honesty -- that's great. But the sex, that's pretty key."