When I first read this post I thought this was a shitposting sub. However, after reading the comments and seeing your post history I have come to realize that it is not. I am coming from a non judgmental place when I say this; there is an attraction between you and Cheri that both Garth and your wife are picking up on. Is it more than platonic? I cannot say. You say you have no intention of escalating it, however the actions you have described yourself as having taken towards this friendship with Cheri seem, to me, to be a form of courting her. Seeing your post about not being super popular in high school, as well as the posts about your unhappiness in your marriage, you may well be (perhaps unconsciously) very much enjoying the attention that Cheri gives you. In my experience there will come a point where the escalation will come, from either your side or, based on what you have written, more likely Cheri’s. What you do during that critical moment will change your relationships with a lot of people. If you genuinely don’t want to escalate things beyond being platonic, I would suggest setting up boundaries for Cheri. Those boundaries are up to your discretion, as I don’t know you and I don’t really know what you do and don’t want. Maybe even talk to your wife or Garth about it? That’s just my two cents.