I have actually have this happen like three times in my life already. And like Marcus and Gerard if there were any bad feelings initially we were able to get past it eventually.
Not only did Gerard say at dinner they are just friends he also said when asked directly by Marcus about their relationship he had to end it on some, "You do your thing I'll do mine . . . " or something to that effect. If he feels some type of way after the fact we can definitely discuss it. But making women off limits because one of my boys likes someone who doesn't reciprocate is his issue and I would definitely point that out to him. There are many women in the world, but most aren't giving me a lane for romance so I got to go with the ones that are. He is being selfish and irrational if his opportunity passed and is letting a woman who doesn't like him in that way come between our friendship.
Here's the thing though....she wasn't a lane to romance for Marcus. Dude
did end up dogging her out.
And yeah I realize it was a happy ending in the end....but I ain't chilling with a girl my homeboy clearly brought as a date (even if they're just friends) when I'm getting women left and right anyway, like Marcus. Gerard can have that as whatever.
And the "we're just friends" thing is a non-factor for me, either way. I've had plenty of women call me a friend, that I ended up messing around with. So I'm not gonna be sitting up at dinner like
"fair game" because of that. I'm gonna be sitting there like
"just friends....oh ok" because I seen how that shyt unfolds, several times.
So I dunno man. Like I said this is all hypothetical because my peer group is in their 40's now and most of them have a wife, long time girl friend, etc. They typically ain't showing up with a new date. Back in the 90's, maybe. There's a core group of 6 guys and various combinations of us lived and/or worked together, in addition to all going to school together, for like 15 years. And I've known them since then.
So this particular situation didn't happen....but it could have back then.
Fred.