Dear Friendship Panel,

I have a dilemma that I hope you can help me with. My friend Clara has a really sweet friend named Rikkie, whom I’ve met a couple of times at parties and gatherings. Rikkie and I really hit it off, and at the most recent party, Rikkie suggested that she and I should go play padel tennis with both of our boyfriends. I, of course, said yes, because Rikkie is both fun and easy to talk to, and it would be nice to hang out without it necessarily having to involve parties and drinks.

Now the date is approaching, but I’ve suddenly started having doubts. Is it actually okay to meet up without Clara? It never occurred to us to invite Clara along because, after all, padel tennis is played in pairs. And if I’m being completely honest, I would actually prefer if she didn’t come. The dynamic and vibe is just different when she’s there.

Rikkie and I have a lot of fun together, and I feel there is potential to develop a really good friendship. But I’m afraid of how Clara will react if she finds out Rikkie and I are hanging out without her. I don’t want her to feel left out or jealous. I’m also worried that she might think I’m trying to “steal” her friend. But at the same time, I think it’s a shame to give up a new budding friendship with Rikkie.

So dear panel, what should I do? Can you become friends with each other’s friends without hurting anyone or causing conflict? How do I best handle this situation?

Best regards,

Amira