I'm realising I have to change something right now.

I have a female friend I hung out with quite often - we were former workmates who would just have a few drinks on Friday nights and, after we lost our jobs to COVID, we continued this tradition.

I started dating someone new and she (the date) started acting funny about me hanging with my friend. At first I was little put off, even annoyed by this: I'm allowed to be friends with whoever I want!

But then I kind of saw things from her angle: How would I feel if she had a single male friend, who lived alone, who she would spend virtually every Friday night drinking with? I was just so used to hanging out with my friend I didn't really consider how it must appear to outsiders.

So I've decided to make a change. I'm still going to see my friend but only if we're in a group of people, not one-on-one. At least until they have a chance to meet and everything is settled.