LIFE

Dear Carol,

My best friend is in love with my brother, who is a year older than us. Whenever I invite her over to hang out, she asks if he’s going to be there. If I say no, she doesn’t show up. If I say yes, she always puts on makeup and a cute outfit. And when she ends up coming over? She won’t stop talking about him. She keeps asking if he has a girlfriend. It’s getting super annoying.

- BFF And Bro

Dear BFF And Bro,

Tricky. And normal. In middle school, my best friend and I were next-door neighbors, and we both had crushes on each other’s brothers. (Actually, she had four brothers—I liked the oldest and the youngest!) But I can see how for you, this has gotten out of hand. If your brother likes her too, they may end up pairing off at some point, awkward or not. But for now, it is absolutely within your rights to say: “I get that you like him, but I don’t want your crush to mess up our friendship. And right now, I’m frustrated that you come over only when he’s around. I’m tired of talking about him.” Other possibilities? Meet at the park or beach or at her place instead of yours. Good luck!

Carol Weston is the author of 16 books. The first is Girltalk. The latest is Speed of Life, her novel and audiobook about a 14-year-old girl who writes to an advice columnist. Check out carolweston.com and follow her on Instagram @carolwestonnyc.

Want more friendship advice? Read more Dear Carol here:
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by GL | 7/15/2024