“Turn around,” Aubrey instructed as she made a circle motion. “I can’t make a judgment call on the outfit until I can see it all.”
I twirled around and did a little bow as I faced her again. “Well? Will I do?”
Aubrey clapped her hands together. “Yes! You look great. You’re gonna knock his socks off. Not that it’s his socks that you really want to knock off, right?”
“Ha-ha, funny. You know how much I hate feet, so that would be a big fat no.”
“And you know that wasn’t the point I was trying to make. I swear at lunch today, I felt like I could get pregnant just from being an innocent bystander to the sexual vibes you guys were throwing off,” Aubrey said as she fanned herself. “You need to do something about that before one of you spontaneously combusts.”
“Oh my God, I cannot believe that you just said that. That’s a big step. Do you really think I’m ready to have sex with Drake? Isn’t it too early? I haven’t really known him that long,” I asked.
Aubrey shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. You’re the only one who can answer that question for yourself. But I can tell you that it’s going to happen sooner or later. There is no way that you won’t end up in bed with Drake at some point in time. He wants you badly, and you eat him up with your eyes every time he walks into a room. Hell, your eyes get all dreamy whenever you mention his name. Admit it—you’re already falling for him.”
“I really am, Aubrey, and it scares the shit out of me.” I crossed my arms across my stomach for comfort.
“It’s okay to be scared. You just can’t let fear make your decisions for you. You don’t let fear rule you when you’re piloting a plane. Don’t do it with this relationship either.” Aubrey came over and wrapped me into a hug. “What’s the worst thing that could happen when you’re in the air?”
“The plane could crash and I could die,” I snapped back at her.
“And if Drake breaks your heart?” she asked.
“I don’t know. If I fall any deeper, it would hurt so bad that I might wish I was dead.”
Aubrey leveled me with a serious look. “Not gonna happen. Not with me here to help pick up the pieces. Flying is much scarier than falling in love because the risks are bigger. You’re just used to those risks. The only way you’re going to get used to them in relationships is if you give this a real chance. No holding yourself back. Really try to make this work with Drake. As scary as it is to think about having sex with only the second person in your life, it’s better to take the plunge with someone you’re starting to care for than to go out and have a string of one-night stands, right?”
There was some logic in her twisted reasoning. If I was going to get back on the horse, so to speak, then it would be better to be with someone within a relationship than participate in the random hookups that happened every day on campus. “I hear what you’re saying, and I’ll try my best to not freak out tonight if things go down that path. But I don’t know that they will. Drake is being very careful not to push too hard with me.”
Aubrey squeezed me and stepped away. “That’s easily solved. Just let him know that you’re ready to take it to the next level with him. Trust me when I say that he won’t hesitate for a second. I can tell from the way he watches you. You’ve got good underwear on just in case?”
I giggled. “Yes, and I shaved too ‘cause I know that’s you’re next question.”
“Then it sounds like you’ve already made the decision before my little pep talk. You skip the undies and shaving when you don’t plan on having sex. It’s good protection to stop yourself from getting naked. But if you’ve prepped for the date, then you’re already picturing yourself having sex with him.”
I nodded in agreement. “I know. You taught me well, Obi-Wan Kenobi.”
I heard a knock at the door and rushed into the other room to answer it. I needed to see Drake now to help settle my nerves. It sounded crazy because of the butterflies I felt every time I saw him, but he made me feel safe when we were together. I opened the door, and there he was. I felt the air leave my lungs in a rush of relief.
“Hi,” I greeted him.
“Hey, babe,” he replied as he snaked an arm out to pull me into his body. His mouth swooped down and claimed mine for a quick kiss. “You ready?”
“Yeah. Let me grab my purse and then we can head out.” I turned back toward my room to grab what I needed, but Aubrey was waiting behind me with my purse in hand.