Devin was already taking instruments and supplies out of his medical bag. "You're going to need to take that dress off," he said.

Carrie's jaw dropped, and she instinctively crossed her arms over her chest as if she were already naked. "God, Devin! No!"

He chuckled and rolled his eyes. "I'm not saying strip naked, Carrie. Put on a sleep shirt or something."

She blushed, and too embarrassed to say anything, got up from the bed. She went to her suitcase and took out her nightgown, retreating to the bathroom to change. As she removed her dress, she remembered that she no longer had her panties. Her gown only came halfway down her thighs. She did the best she could to stretch it before coming out of the bathroom, then walked very carefully back to the bed, pulling the throw blanket over her lap as she sat down. Devin had probably seen her in nightshirts of similar length, back in her and Deidre's sleepover days, but never without panties on.

Devin had finished prepping his supplies and was washing his hands in the kitchen sink. She didn't know why she was starting to feel so anxious. Maybe it was the fact that there were paper towels covering some of the items laid out on the desk. She couldn't imagine what might be under there, or why he had covered them.

As he dried his hands, he walked back to her bedside and sat down in the chair facing her. "Okay, Carrie, tell me why you've been avoiding this for so long."

She shrugged. "I just really don't like my privacy invaded. To be exposed and touched and stared at…" She paused. "Especially not by you." As soon as she said it, she turned red and clamped her hand over her mouth. Even though she knew he had always known about her crush, the two of them had never spoken of it.

He nodded, and his eyes told her he understood. "I know," he said softly. "You don't need to be embarrassed." She buried her face in her hands, and he gently took her wrists, pulling her hands away from her face.

"Carrie…" She looked up at him. "Don't be embarrassed."

She drew in and exhaled a deep, nervous breath. "Okay. I'll try."

"Good." He let go of her wrists, laying her hands to rest in her lap.