Caroline, thanks for responding to my comment about casual sex. You explanation makes perfect sense, along with your comment that we all violate our personal moral and ethical standards more often that we'd like to admit. And I also agree that 'casual sex' is the real oxymoron, whether it's just in this story or in real life.
I wasn't trying to condemn either of these characters, nor was I putting down your story. My original comment was intended to refer to people who engage in oxymorons on a regular basis, not Lois and Clark specifically. (It sounded perfectly clear in my head!) You've done an outstanding job of showing how damaging it is to any relationship to put the cart before the horse.
The romantic in me hopes you resolve this without too many heart shards scattered around the landscape, but the parent in me knows better. This is going to be a seven-Kleenex ride no matter how it's resolved, and I'm going to be watching, because overall this is an outstanding story.
