A close set of girlfriends is like a corset, generally helping you maintain as much poise as possible through all walks of life while proving to be an incredibly tight system of support. If you’re lucky, they know you better than you know yourself (or than you’d prefer to admit to yourself) and love you anyway, all the while sharing their wardrobes and opinions on whether it’s time for a new hair color.

I wouldn’t dream of replacing my girls, not for a second, and especially not with a guy. But what happens when your interest is piqued by a third party you’ve met through a friend? That mutual friend might just be one of your girls, and before you start inquiring why they haven’t introduced you before, you’d better put the brakes on. Why? Because as lovely as a girlfriend is, odds are, she’s not into sharing. Even if she has no attraction to her friend, it’s not looking good until you talk it out.

Before you protest, I would like to clarify that I am aware not all girls are like this. Case and point, I have a friend who set me up with her ex-boyfriend once (weird, weird, weird and ended too horribly for a 500-word blog to get into, but trust that I have a healthy fear of karma after that entire situation, so yes I learned my lesson). One of my best guy friends is even dating one of my closest girls, and I’ve been a supporter all along. In that instance, and certain others, I don’t mind being a liaison, but there’s something that makes me hesitate before actively pursuing someone I meet through one of my girlfriends. Read More »