What does the age of consent law mean ...?

I just had a dispute with a co-worker over lunch about the age of consent law and can't find a right or wrong answer online. We live in Delaware and the age of consent is 18 but if you are 16/17 you can legally have sex with someone up to the age of 29. I contend that it's against the law for a 30yo guy to go on a date with a 17yo girl even if they don't have sex ... my co-worker thinks that non sexual contact is legal and not punishable. (This all started over that reality show guy that married the 16yo girl) WHO IS RIGHT?