I have a friend in his 50s. I've known him for at least a decade, as part of a friendship group, I wouldn't say we are close friends
He's been divorced since I've known him and has had a few girlfriends. I'll say now I have no romantic interest in him and he none in me. My only involvement in this situation is as an interested observer and it is interesting, to see human nature at work.
He has a much younger female friend. I suspect he'd like more although he denies it. She is definitely not interested, but she does enjoy having him round her finger, he does a lot of DIY etc for her. She is an absolutely stunning woman in her late 20s, a lovely nature, good company, accomplished in her career, very sociable with lots of friends. It's hard to see why she wants him around tbh, but she does seem prepared to put herself out for him - she travelled 60 miles to be at an event we were all at yesterday.
Anyway as the afternoon progressed and after she'd left, the conversation turned to his love life (several of us living vicariously 😆)
The women in the group tried to explain to him that his instance on spending so much time with this friend damages all his relationships. I don't for a minute think men and women can't be friends, but a close friendship with a gorgeous woman half his age is a bit of a cliché!
He ended things with his last gf because she "couldn't handle" this friendship, but I doubt I know any woman who could. They're very close, eg go drinking together and will share a room rather than thqn travel home etc.
Anyway he appears not to get it at all, they're just friends and any woman will have to accept that. It's none of my business and I don't really care, expect for the heartache it brings his GFs!
Is he kidding himself and genuinely believes this is a normal friendship, is he always hopeful that eventually there'll be something more, are they in fact sleeping together....?
No one knows obviously, but what would your guess be? Would you be able to "handle it"?