Zoe was first in the door, desperate to be in private again. Jess followed after her and helped her to the couch.

 

"It's okay Zoe, just breathe. In, and hold... out, and hold... focusing on my voice."

 

Jess had been so excited to take Zoe out, but their coffee and shopping date had been a disaster. It was supposed to be Zoe's first time out in girl mode doing normal girlfriend things. She thought Zoe passed just fine, not that she was personally concerned with the notion, but Zoe was still anxious the whole time. The coffee was admittedly nice, as was the weather, and it seemed like things were going well. The adorable woman was coming out of her shell and starting to feel good about herself, and it took all of Jess's self control not to gush over her. But then the coffee was done, Zoe needed to use their bathroom before leaving, and things went downhill.

 

Nobody in there had the guts to say anything to her face, but a couple of the other women in the bathroom were shooting Zoe daggers, and the poor girl could obviously tell. She looked about ready to fall apart when she left the stall. The only thing holding Zoe together until they got home was her freeze response.

 

"That's it, nice and slow. It's okay, you're safe."

 

Zoe's breathing was slowing a little, but not enough that Jess felt comfortable about it. She decided to take a different approach.

 

"Zoe, I'm going to lie down on the couch, and I want you to lie on my chest. Can you do that for me?"

 

The girl choked out an affirmative, and laid on her side with her head against Jess's chest.

 

"Now, drop for me."

 

Jess felt Zoe's breathing slow down significantly as the trigger phrase took her down. She breathed a sigh of relief.

 

"Good girl... we're just going to stay like this for a while, okay?"

 

Zoe mumbled an affirmative and nuzzled in. Jess began stroking her hair and whispering affirmations into her suggestible mind, allowing herself to come down from her own sympathetic adrenaline rush. It was a little disappointing, but this was a fine way to spend the day instead. They could try their date another time, when Zoe was ready again.

 

Jess let her eyes close, and sleep soon took them both.