Q: Well me and my best guy friend used to hang out a lot. In fact, I almost dated him.

But then I started dating his best friend and it made him mad so he doesn’t talk to me anymore. His best friend and I are doing really well but his and my relationship just deteriorated. I called him to talk when my boyfriend was grounded.

We caught up and he likes me again. I don’t like him but is that cheating if he does (like me)? If so, what should I do?

— Loved by Many

C: Dear Loved by Many, no, it is absolutely not cheating to hang out with your best friend (who happens to be a boy) while you have a boyfriend. 

Though with that said, you do need to make it clear to your best friend that you are dating someone else, and that nothing can happen between the two of you. If he can’t deal with just being your friend, it might be time to take a little break from hanging with him. 

It’s tricky that the boy you’re dating is also his best friend, but he has to respect your relationships. If he’s okay just being your friend, you should never feel bad about talking to him and hanging out together. 

You can’t help the way he feels about you.

You also might want to remind your boyfriend (in case he’s the jealous type) that you are just friends with this guy, and that he’s the one you’re dating for a reason.

SR: Friendships don’t just happen by chance. They require effort and sometimes work.

Friends generally share interests and initiate conversations with each other that spark familiar topics. However, to become closer friends, you must share time together.

Therefore, if your relationship with someone is a threat to the person you are dating, you have to be very careful.

The best tip I can give you is always be honest and if you feel uncomfortable with your boyfriend’s best friend, take cautious steps to act and speak in a way that is not misleading. Being friendly is not the same thing as ‘flirting.’

Being nice can’t hurt you; misleading others can!