I’ve known Jack for a couple of years. He’s kind of a loner but we always got along as we both have some geeky interests. We’re both introverts but I’m somewhat more social.
My girlfriend is also an introvert and when I introduced them, years ago, it was awkward at first but they got along pretty well. We hang out occasionally the three of us.
Mostly we talk in a Facebook group, and I talk to him in private messages. A few times, when he went through a family problem, I knew (from my girlfriend) that he vented to her in a private messages. She was happy to help but felt the need to tell me and I was OK with it.
When we do something at my house, I always invite him but he always refuses. The few times he aquiesced was because my girlfriend convinced him. Sometimes he disables all his social media and we loose all contact.
The latest one has been going for a while. I tried to call him multiple times but he never answers. When my girlfriend messages him he answers immediately. We actually tested that when we were together.
Lately he’s been sending her messages trying to chit chat and being somewhat insistent. She felt it was very weird, specially after her seeing he never answer my calls. This latest time she actually confronted him about it and point blank asked him if he was mad at me and that it was all very weird.
You know what I’m thinking…but I’d like to know your perspective.
Talk to him straight without being cruel. Below is an example and not a script.
“Hey, I really appreciate you and our friendship. G/f and I are happy to be your friend. We also happy together. Please be respectful of that. I really hope we can continue growing our friendship.”
He’ll be embarrassed. You can choose the level of connection and space to hold after that. Immediate disconnection will feel awkward for him. But so will holding space. Only in holding space can he even begin to remember that being friends with you is a safe place.
Its not easy to reach out to a friend with low self esteem. But its something they crave for.