What would you do?

[GingerbreadLiqueur]

I have a male friend. We are a bubble.

Anyway, on Tuesday we arranged for me to go over to his tonight. One of us is normally in touch 24 hours beforehand to confirm, agree the time and confirm what we're having for dinner.

Now, agreeing the time is just perfunctory - it's always the same time.

So. I sent the last couple of messages to him over the past couple of days - nothing serious or that required a response as such but he rarely doesn't acknowledge a message at all. Neither of us confirmed tonight yesterday. I still havent heard from him. Which, frankly, I think is just a bit rude.

So, what so I do if I don't hear from him?

Go over at the usual time even thought it hasn't been confirmed? Or message him for an third time like a dick?

We've been friends for a couple of years. Most of my close friends also have asd or understand it well enough to get why they need to be direct. He's the only close NT friend I have and he sometimes forgets.

Everyone else i know has bubbled with vulnerable family members. I don't have family and he's in the same position so we've been bubbled the whole way through.

Unless he's lied to me, and I'd have no way of knowing, he's not bubbled with anyone else.

We've been in touch almost constantly since the beginning of Nov. This is the first time I've had a funny feeling.

He did reply eventually.

He said I was to "feel free' go over. But its just left me wondering if he's just being polite now. I don't know. It feels like something has changed. But I dont know if that's me.

I did wonder if he might have started online dating or something during lockdown and that has taken his attention this week. But he could tell me that. I'm not good at taking hints - which he knows.

I just feel a bit 'odd' about it today.

If you don't feel comfortable/right about it then perhaps give tonight a miss? Get back to him and say the weather's crap so you'll give it a miss this week. See if he contacts you during the week - if he doesn't then I don't think he's that invested in your friendship.

I'd go. If he didn't want you do he'd have either not replied or made an excuse.

It's difficult to know whether your gut feeling is right or you're just over thinking things. You have two choices - go over and ask him if things are ok, perhaps ask if he's started online dating, or stay on your own tonight. If I was you I'd probably choose the first option