Secondary Friends

As in, I was introduced to the secondary friend by the primary?

Yes and it’s usually because I fell in love with the secondary friend.

Sure. Personal chemistry is inscrutable.

The gardner looked lathered in sweat and not in a good way.

Yes, of course this happens sometimes. Unless maybe you're one of those people who has had the same friends since you were 10, it seems a natural thing.

"the Primary Friend"? Just the one?

"secondary friends"

Are you autistic?

Basement-dwelling incel?

Both?

I grew up knowing a guy from a few towns over. He and I would be at competing high schools for drama club festivals. I had a crush on him, and he liked me as a friend, so we stayed in touch.

Years went by, and we ended up living in LA, running into each other strangely frequently, so we really started hanging out a lot. Eventually he introduced me to his lesbian friend, and the three of us started hanging out - then I started hanging out with just her, and some of her other friends. Next thing I realized, she and I became really close friends, and would only sometimes hang out with the other guy.

Years went by yet again, and he fell into a weird space, became really toxic and eventually his true colors started to show - he was only involved with people for what they could give him, in terms of free meals, places to stay, hitching rides on road trips, and he would really make life hell for the host each time.

The lesbian and I just decided we had it with him, when he really tried to pull a stunt. We both kicked him out of our lives for good, and haven't looked back, even twenty years later. Still friends with this lady, and occasionally we wonder whatever happened to this guy.