Dear Emily,

I am a 28 year old female and I have been casually hooking up with a co-worker who is 31. I have recently developed feelings for him. and he acts as if he feels the same.  He's a really shy guy and doesn't have a lot of luck with girls -- although he is decent looking, funny and smart. The last time we hooked up, we were getting ready for work in the morning, and I saw my panties were lying on the floor. When I got out of the shower, I went to pack up my clothes and the panties were gone.  I am really weirded out that he would take my panties and hide them.  I've heard of high school guys keeping panties as a trophy but this guy is 31! I can't imagine why he would want my panties.  Not to sound conceited, but I am a little out of his league. I doubt he has hooked up with too many hot girls, so maybe he was keeping them as a trophy??  Do you have any insight on this?  I am a little disappointed because I would be interested in dating him, but not if he is a creeper.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

------------------------Miss Emily's advice-----------------------

Keeping the panties as a trophy is possible, because you never really know what goes on in a person's mind until you get to know him (her) a little better. That said, there are some people who never truly reveal themselves. For all we know, he's a cross-dresser, or sleeping with it as a reminder of you on the night's you're not there to snuggle. It's too late to ask him, now. The right time was when panties went missing. If he seems like a reasonable sort in all other respects, I think you can shine this one possible infraction until you have something more concrete. A clever woman might set a trap.