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: (French.) 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 "打算要结婚或是保持长期的恋爱关系"，例如：Linda is the girl he sees himself with.

2. Dump

Dump 是 break up 的俗语讲法，两者之间的区别就好像是我们汉语中说的"分手"和"被甩"差不多。例如：Mike was dumped by Fiona. Again.

3. Be with

这里"be with" 意思是"和某人在一起，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."

举个例子：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.