Carrie: Mike told me everything that afternoon while I helped him pick out sheets at Bed, Bath Beyond. So how long have you been seeing her?
Mike: A while.
Carrie: Is this a painful TOPic?
Mike: No. It's just she's not someone I date openly.
Carrie: Why? Is she married?
Mike: No.
Carrie: Is she a cousin?
Mike: No. Look. The thing is, she's smart, she's been incredibly sweet, and sex is great. She's just not the one I see myself with.
Carrie: Why not? It was about three months ago. Mike had been dumped by Fiona Brooks1, a cellist2 for the Philharmonic who he was trying to forget as quickly as possible. They had both loved to cook, and shopping for the week was a Saturday morning ritual. So he was feeling particularly vulnerable when--
Libby: Care to try some aged3 sheep's milk cheese from the trappists in Alps?
Mike: Thanks. It's good.
Libby: It's made by monks4.
Mike: Really?
Libby: Trappist monks. Fresh goat cheese from the Napa Valley.
Mike: It's delicious.
Libby: It's a triple cream from France.
Carrie: She was one of the only women he'd ever met who he felt he could just be with. So what's the problem?
Mike: Look. She's not beautiful and we don't have a lot in common. I mean, you know, most of her friends are in dairy. But she's warm and unpretentious and it was the best sex I've ever had in my life.
Carrie: What are you afraid of? What are other people going to think?
Mike: All I know is that she's not the right woman for me in the larger sense, so I keep her a secret.
Carrie: I couldn't decide whether Mike was being shallow or honest but the question nagged5 me for days. How many of us out there are having great sex with people we're ashamed to introduce to our friends?
妙语佳句，活学活用
1. See oneself with.
意思是 计划要结婚或是维持长期的恋爱关系，比如：Linda is the girl he sees himself with.
2. Dump
Dump 是 break up 的俗语讲法，两者之间有什么区别就仿佛是大家汉语中说的分手和被甩差不多。比如：Mike was dumped by Fiona. Again.
3. Be with
这里be with 意思是和某人在一块，交往，在这个片段中的意思是Mike could just be himself around her, he didn't feel like he had to impress her or pretend to be someone else. He could just be himself around her, and she liked him.
举例：I think John is the man I'm supposed to be with. 这里的 be with 意思就是 be dating。
4. In the larger sense
在这里和see oneself with的意思差不多：He doesn't see himself with her for a long time, or marrying later in life.
