Husband crosses line with a trusting friend

Q: During my friend’s three-week stay with a married couple, the husband constantly tried to grab her butt and crotch whenever his wife wasn’t around.

Finally, he stole a pair of my friend’s underwear and wouldn't return it unless she went to the basement and modelled thongs that he’d bought her.

My friend repeatedly told him she isn’t interested in him, she has a boyfriend. She’s adamant she won’t ever go back.

Since she didn't tell her girlfriend (the wife) anything, what should she do? Similar things happened on a previous visit but the forced modelling is new.

Another time, the wife saw her husband grab my friend, then blamed her.

P.S. — Something similar happened when my friend was with another married couple, and when she did tell this wife, he was kicked out … but then the wife took him back and dumped my friend. Concerned Girlfriend

A: Your friend should avoid that first man’s presence around her anywhere. He has no regard or respect for her, his wife, nor the women’s friendship.

She must refuse any further contact with him, which means not staying with that couple again.

She carries no blame for his behaviour, but she needs to learn to protect herself. Better to lose underwear than to have gone into the basement to satisfy the man’s gawking and lust.

That a similar incident happened to her with another man and cost her a friendship with his wife, is now too many experiences of this kind.

Discuss with her the obvious red flags she needs to recognize: Married men who leer at her or try to get close when she’s alone. She’s been too trusting.

In her case, the main reason she’s visited these married couples was her friendship with the wives. If the men had been true friends of hers, they wouldn’t have come on to her. Q: My friend of 10 years is a drama queen who can be warm and generous, but always steals the “poor-me” limelight even when I’m the one with a serious problem.

Example: I lost my job several months ago so I am living on a very reduced budget. She invited me out for a restaurant meal which felt very kind. However, she whined throughout about being unable to afford the bigger, fancier car she wants and had to settle for another still brandnew car!

Yet, she calls pretty regularly to see how I’m doing, and brought a warm meal for us to share one recent cold night. But her goodness comes with her dramas about what’s not perfect in her life.

I’m unsure how long I can take this during my low period. Tired of Drama

A: You’re both getting something out of this friendship, so decide if it’s worth it to you. Maybe, despite not appreciating her “whining,” you actually like the keyhole view of the seemingly luxurious life she describes.

Or maybe, though you have less access to “stuff,” her neediness for it makes you feel stronger in character. Her complaints indicate that neither her boyfriend nor her accumulation of goodies are ever fully satisfying for her.

Frankly, I don’t know how you’ve put up with her materialistic chatter and hunger this long. Your choices are to either accept it, discuss it or end it. Ellie’s tip of the day Avoid a friend’s lustful husband. No free stay is worth risk to you physically/ sexually, nor to the friendship.