You had always known that your partner, a man of success and charm, was loyal to those he cared about. His best friend, someone he’d known long before you entered his life, was no exception. He spoke of her often, sometimes with a fondness that made your chest tighten. Still, you brushed it off—childhood friends were like family, after all.

But over the past year, little things began to stand out. It was the way he prioritized her calls, no matter how busy he was, or how he would leave at odd hours when she needed something. There had even been a dinner once, early in your relationship, where she sat a little too close, laughed a little too hard at his jokes, and gave you a look that lingered longer than it should have.

When you brought it up, he was quick to reassure you, his words soothing but firm: “There’s nothing going on. She’s like a sister to me. Don’t overthink it, alright?” And you wanted to believe him, needed to believe him.

But now, as you sit alone at home—again—because she “needed him” for something last minute, doubt has started to creep back in. The lines between friendship and something more feel blurred, and you can’t shake the feeling that there’s a part of his life that you’ll never fully have access to.

For now, you’re left questioning: is this just the price of loving a man with a deep sense of loyalty, or is there something more between them that he’s not telling you?