"What if I was your girlfriend?"

“What if I was your girlfriend?” she suggested. Exactly what I had been leading her toward.

I laughed in mock-disbelief. “What?!”

“No, stay with me here. The way I see it, you're in a catch-22. Lost your self-esteem because you lost a girlfriend. Can't get a girlfriend, so your self-esteem stays low, which makes you afraid of relationships. Sound about right?”

“Yeah, it does.”

“So what if I break the cycle I started years ago by being your girlfriend long enough to rebuild your self-esteem? Then, when you feel ready, you can get back out there and find someone who is not a lesbian. What do you think?”

“Damn, Jade, it's a crazy idea, but I think it'll work. Are you really OK with this? I mean, when I say girlfriend, I mean... that includes...”

“Yes, I know,” she nodded solemnly. “That's a price I'm willing to pay to, well, to repay what I owe you.”