Dear Maggie,

For several almost a year now, my boyfriend and I have been growing closer and closer. We agree we’re in love, and we agree we’re in it for the long haul. We currently spend at least a couple of nights a week together, sometimes at his place and sometimes at mine. But I’m ready for more. He’s not.

I find myself feeling lonely and miserable on nights when I’m by myself. And then on the nights when we’re together, I’m brooding about wishing they were more often than not. And wondering when things will get to that point. But I don’t say anything. I don’t want to push him into anything he’s not ready for, I really don’t. But what if I’m ready and he’s not? What happens then?

We used to never stay overnight. Then we did once in a while. Then nearly all the time, and now it’s every time we see each other. We used to see each other once or twice a week and now we’re up to three times, and sometimes more. So it is progressing, but with painful slowness! I mean, I’m not getting any younger!

My best friends say I should tell him how I’m feeling, and we should air it out and discuss it. But I worry it’ll scare him away. What should I do?

Signed,

Sick of Sleeping Alone

Dear . . . you. (I didn’t want to call you “sick”!)