I was nervous. How was I to know he loved me? It might be just an affair. Why did we ever say just? Though at that time men and women tried each other on, casually, like suits, rejecting whatever did not fit.
The character reflects on her anxiety and uncertainty regarding a relationship, questioning the depth of her partner's feelings. The possibility that their connection could be merely an affair weighs heavily on her mind, leading her to grapple with the implications of a casual relationship.
This sentiment highlights the societal norms of the time, where both men and women engaged in relationships with a trial-and-error approach, treating love much like a temporary arrangement. The metaphor of trying on suits underscores the superficiality involved in romance during that period.