Is it really okay to just be friends?

The day will come when we've pulled back the seven layers of ourselves and get to the sensitive, bruised ball of whatever it is we are that deep ... and one of us will say "I don't understand why people can't just be friends," and the other will agree because both of us have experienced beautiful relationships that spiral into something potentially beautiful, but a little premature: a next level relationship.

But what is it about feeling like wanting to keep a friendship at a friendship level that makes us want to make it more than friendship? I don't get it. I do get it. Kind of.

We're suspicious of each other, and sometimes scared, women will feel like another man is going to take advantage of them, men will feel like another woman is just going to toy with their heart and so we're always looking for signs in each other that might let us know: this bitch will crush me/this asshole will scratch my emotional fabric because he's too scared to commit but then realizes what good can come of it but it's too late, but he'll tell me and make me question.

Once we've decided that we can just be friends, then there's no ulterior motives. We're comfortable talking, opening up, laying out the secrets, talking about what fascinates us most, how parenthood is scary in that we'll be responsible for a life, but beautiful in the Love it spawns.

Then what? We've been authentic and unguarded so we build trust, set an emotional foundation, then the biology starts kicking in.

"If I trust you with my secrets, I can trust you with my heart."

... why can't we just leave it at the secrets? Eff.