You’re an attractive young woman, with a boyfriend who adores you have a guy friend whom you always run around with – you suspect that he might be interested in you but it’s never really been brought up before. He knows that you have a boyfriend; he wouldn’t put you in that position. Or would he?
My boyfriend, Tyler, is amazing. Everything I ever hoped to find in a man. Only downfall? The 5 hours of separation between us during the summer months. I choose to venture to Ocean City during break from college to make lots of money waitressing. It’s really a great gig. Tyler is a few years older than me, works full-time for a great corporation, and we’ve been dating for just less than one year now. I could truly see myself marrying him.
Tyler has met my best guy friend, Rich, who only lives a few block away from me. Tyler doesn’t care for Rich. He always says that he can tell that Rich has a thing for me and would date me in a millisecond. I always say, “No he wouldn’t. He doesn’t see me like that. I’m just a friend of him. Nothing more.” Tyler still never buys it. I wish I would have trusted Tyler’s instinct.
A few of our friends got together one night for a little house party at Rich’s house. I told Tyler that I was going over to Rich’s with the girls. He said, “Have fun and be careful. Call me when you get home.” I promised him that I’d call him as soon as one of my girlfriends dropped me off later that night.
We were all hanging out on the back porch, beer pong was set up, there was a case of beer in the refrigerator, and I felt really comfortable knowing that I was at a close friend’s house with some of my other girlfriends. I’m not really a drinker, but I decided to play a round of beer pong – just for fun. I remember killing it… I got that ping pong ball in every time, well maybe not every time. I think I ended up drinking at least 2 red solo cups halfway filled with warm Miller Lite. After the game, I sat on the back porch just chatting with Rich. Seemed harmless… until Rich leaned over and kissed me.
He kissed me. I didn’t move. I kissed him back. In my head I was screaming, “What are you doing? Why are you kissing him? What about Tyler? Stop!” I knew I shouldn’t have been kissing him back, but I was and I couldn’t help it. I pulled back, looked at Rich, and hung my head. He looked at me and said, “I’ve been waiting forever to do that.” My response? “I have a boyfriend.”
I stood up, ready to leave, and looked for my friend to take me home. She was nowhere to be found. Everyone else had left. Seemed as though it was only Rich and I left. Great.
I was stranded, stuck at his house. My old option was to start walking home. Easier said than done. I was no more than 20 yards down the street when I heard Rich calling my name. I ignored his calls but the sounds of his sneakers pounding the pavement made me realize that he was coming towards me. He grabbed my shoulder and turned me towards him. I looked him straight in the eye.
“Please don’t be like this. You know that I like you. You had to know,” he said.
As I thought about it I realized that yes, maybe I did have a hunch that he was into me. I also knew that I was trying to avoid thinking about it. He knew that I was head-over-heels for Tyler. Why would he disrespect our relationship like that? What was I going to tell my boyfriend? “Hey honey, I made out with that kid you don’t really like or trust last night. Hope you’re not upset.”
That wasn’t going to work.
As I write this I am plagued by a guilty conscious, staring at my phone debating if I should call Tyler or not. Will he understand that Rich came onto me? Will he hate me forever? Will he never trust me again? Will he call this all quits? What about Rich? What am I supposed to do about him? Ditch him as a friend and break his heart? So many questions and not enough time to react. I’m lost in a debate about whether I should tell Tyler or just keep this to myself. Honesty is the best policy and no one wants a guilty conscious, right?
