I’ve been in a relationship with my boyfriend for over a year and a half. But a couple of weeks ago, I was hanging out with one of my male friends – someone my boyfriend sees as a threat. I never saw any potential threat, partly because of my low self-esteem. I didn’t think this friend would ever see me that way.

While I was hanging out with this friend, he ended up kissing me. I was too shocked to do much, but was truthful with my friends and my boyfriend. One of my friends misread my messages and told my boyfriend that I had sex with the other guy (which did not happen).

In explaining what did happen, I realized I do have feelings for my friend. I just don’t know who I feel stronger about. My friend is closer to my age (my boyfriend is a few years older). The friend is sweet and funny and caring, and now tells me he really wants to be with me more than anything. Boyfriend can be sweet and funny, but has a tendency to get overprotective and slightly controlling without meaning to. He doesn’t have many friends and is still working on getting his life back on track from going down a dark path that I’ve helped him through. Part of me feels that I like friend more, but the other part feels like there’s a hole in my heart and that my life would be shattered without boyfriend.

– Help