Hi Meredith,

There this man in my life (let’s call him Sam), who I have been friends with for over 10 years – since my late high school years. He’s a few years older, but ever since we met, we got along great as friends. There had always been a flirtation, but it never went past that.

Since we met, Sam had been dating one woman off and on for six years. He would tell me about their relationship and I would give him advice, only as a friend. Last winter, Sam and I ended up taking things too far one night. He told me he and his girlfriend were breaking up but it ended up that they got back together. Either way, he put me in a very bad situation.

I’m by no means a home-wrecker and wanted nothing to do with him or the situation. Fast forward nine months later, they finally break up, and I am the first person he calls. The friend part of me wanted to be there for him, and we started hanging out again platonically. Last weekend, though, we slept together. It’s been three months since their break up.

My question is – can I start a relationship with someone I don’t 100 percent trust? If he cheated on someone he was dating for six years, why wouldn’t he do it to me? Do people really change?

– Trust issues