Dear Miss Emily:

My sister has a really good guy friend I've just come to know. He's a sweet, charming guy that I've fallen for pretty hard but my sister is upset because he was her friend first. She's not interested in him romantically but she has issues about the two of us spending time with one another. I'm not certain whether to respect her wishes or to go with my feelings. I need advice! Thanks.

------------------------------Miss Emily's advice--------------------------

Tough call, because you (more than likely) will be involved with your sister for the rest of your life, and this guy may not be a constant. From an objective point of view, she has no right to dictate whether you can, or cannot have a relationship with him. She's not only controlling your life, but his, as well. I would try to reason with her and let her know, in the nicest way possible, she is wrongly attempting to control two lives, other than her own, and if she could see it from that point of view you'd appreciate it. Again, tell her you'd like to pursue something with him and, if he's on board, you won't inhibit her friendship with him in any way. That said, she's being selfish and possessive (threatened), and it may not change her mind. Bottom line: weigh loss against gain.

Dear Miss Emily:

So this guy is a family friend of ours (my cousin's best friend) and he is 29 years old. I am 20 and i guess we have just recently become really close because of an injury he acquired. Prior to 2 weeks from today, he and I never really hung out. He texted me randomly one afternoon asking me to come visit him alongside my cousin who was stopping by his home.I couldn't do that because i had to work so i asked him if he would accept a rain-check for when next my cousin was visiting. Well he responded asking why i had to visit him only during the times when my cousin was visiting. I told him no it doesn't have to be that way and just let me know when, and send me and invitation and I'll try to honor it. Two days later he invited me over. I didn't know what we would do so i brought some fresh produce over and made dinner. the following day i got another invite, and another. Last week, he injured himself while playing football. Now i figured, since he is new in town and has very few friends i will show up and assist him with a couple of things around the house and pay him company since he was asked to stay at home for a week so as to enable the ankle heal. During this period, i happen to find out that i have feelings for him but i dont let them take me far given that i wasnt sure of his feelings and the fact that he constantly mentioned how old he is which doesn't count to me in a any way shape or form. Well, Thursday evening, he prevented me from driving home under the idea that t was pretty late and so he offered to give me his bed while he slept on the couch. However, in the morning he came to the sitting room where i had moved to and started tickling me. He then asked if i could give him a massage which i did. Then he told me not to trust him because he was a player. He asks me how i feel about what he just said and i told him i couldn't say anything except that i do have feelngs for him. He then told me not to have feelings for him because he was a bad boy. I asked him what was stopping him from making a move and and he said he was talking to someone else. Broken hearted and hurt, i decided to leave but he kept pulling me back about 4 or 5 times into his arms and giving me extremely long hugs like i was going to dissapear or something. However, i told him at least she won so i should leave and he told me not to have feelings for him because he doesn't want me to get hurt and he overly respects me and the way i carry myself. I tried purposefully to leave, but he kept stoping me. He wanted me to promise everything was going to be fine an we would hang out as usual.. I told him i couldnt promise that but ill try. The whole time he had a bonner because i could feel it each time he hugged me from behind or the front.  Then, to find out the truth, i asked him for a kiss and he said it wasnt right but then kissd me still. He cooked for us both every other night i was there. However, he recently appologized for having said he wanted to touch my ass and adviced not to give anyone the go ahead, esp. when it gets people hurt...He said he was worried about me because i might not want to chill with him anymore. I told him i wasnt holding grudges against him and he could stop worrying Now what my question is, how do i deal with this situation and with him? Does he care about me and is just trying to deny the fact that he does or what?"

----------------------------------Miss Emily's advice-------------------------

His warning to you that he's a player let's him off the guilt-hook if you end up getting hurt, right? "Don't have feelings for me, but is this hard-on getting to you?" That said, you are responsible for your behavior, as well. I would assume he has feelings for you, why not? But he's talking to another girl he has feelings for, as well.  If I were you, I'd back off because he seems to be talking and behaving in a contradictory manner. If he wants a relationship (and, of course, there are no guarantees any relationship will work), let him do the pursuing and come to you rather than being an "in house" visitor. I understand he's been injured, but having you in his home makes it safe territory for him -- and not safe territory for you.  If he is a player, like he admits "forewarned is forearmed!" Use your better judgment in this matter because it really, like most things, comes down to a matter of choice and the responsibility that comes with that choice.

Dear Miss Emily:

Well, i am 42 years old and i feel that my boyfriend id my soul mate. We have known each other for 14 years and have always been those kind of friends with benefits.  He broke my heart about 9 and half years ago, went and married someone who has the same name as me, and they have been divorced for 3 years now.  He was hurt and  he does not like to share his feelings and he keeps them all bottled up inside.  We went out drinking the other night and he told me that he loved me.  I really did not know what to say, so i mentioned it on Sunday, and i told him that i love him too.  We have so much fun together and we are both happy. His friends tell me that he is really happy and you can tell that. But my problem is, is that I want more.  I want him to open up, and i'm scared that if I push he will push away from me.  I have thought about giving him a time frame. We are going away in November for vacation. I am not asking for marriage, just more like maybe living together. What should i do?

--------------------------------Miss Emily's advice-------------------------

I agree with you. You're going to want him to open up if  this leads to any true commitment in the relationship -- because if you don't have that type of intimacy with him, you're never going to feel included. It is a good sign that's he's confessed his love for you, and this is an opportunity to lay the groundwork for better communication. Gently remind him that the basis for any great relationship is the intimacy of sharing feelings and entrusting each other with that information. Use the November vacation as the turning point. If all goes well, you can make your intentions known. Right now, I think it's too soon.  

I'm a wodow of 2 years.  I've been conversing by phone with a widower in another state for 1 1/2 years, since the day after his wife died. We talk almost daily by phone and have long, fun conversations.  I have the opportunity to date someone local and want to know if I should tell my phone friend.  He would be my first choice to date, but I don't know how he feels about it.  I need some advice, please.

-------------------------------Miss Emily's advice--------------------------

After 1 1/2 years of conversing, you should have a better handle on his intentions. But that said, I see no reason to rock the boat for now. Say nothing, date the local man and see how it goes. If something happens to spark your interest with this new man, then you can tell your phone friend you have started to date. I do not see this as an act of betrayal because you only have a friendship at this point, and no attempt at moving beyond that has been initiated by either you or him. Let me know how it goes.

I am a happily about to marry my fiance who I have a very healthy, very satisfying sex life with, but I have an issue that needs to be addressed before I marry this man. I want to have sex with other men. I don't want to date or form a relationship with anyone else, as I truly do love my husband-to-be. But when I see a man I find attractive, I can't help but fantasize about having sex with him. I've considered telling my fiance, and have even playfully mentioned it before but he cannot understand why I would want to sleep with other men. I'm not sure I even understand why. I cannot imagine my life without this man, and do not want to cheat on him or hurt him in anyway, but it's getting harder and harder to suppress these urges.

-----------------------------------Miss Emily's advice------------------------

There's only one way to deal with this and it's to face it head-on. You've already laid out a plan for a train wreck. If your fiance were to say, when you playfully told him about your urge to have sex with other men, "Gee, honey, I'm on board with that!" you wouldn't have a problem. But he didn't say that, and if you were to marry him your urge to have sex with other men may very well be realized. I'd get to a therapist, pronto, to iron this out before you say "I do." If you can't afford a therapist, you need to be honest with your fiance, now, in order for him to decide if he wants to marry you under these conditions. Otherwise, you are playing with fire and your husband to be -- and you -- will get burned. 

Dear Miss Emily:

My mom is getting married in August to a wonderful man. They are passionately in love and constantly  remind each other of it. My parents divorced because she cheated on my dad. That is why i looked at her text messages when she left one day with out her phone. She had never been known to just stay with one guy, and it seemed too good to be true so i checked the messages. Sure enough, she is having an affair with another man. I have heard her talk of him before, but it was a while ago. The messages they send to each other are very sexual and gross. The man she is marrying is a great guy, and i don't want her to ruin him, like she did my dad. What do i do?

-----------------------------------Miss Emily's advice-------------------------

If you are sure the messages are from another man and they are current you, obviously, have two choices: risk severing your relationship with your mother if you go to her fiance with proof (and you'd have to have that proof in order for him to believe you); or keep your mouth shut by minding your own business and let him find out the hard way. Now, I know you have the urge to right an wrong because your father was a victim of your mother's cheating -- and I'm not saying your mother hasn't done something dishonest by this correspondence with another man -- but, again, the facts of her situation with your dad (he may not be perfect), and her intent with the cell-phone man would have to be present for me to go to her fiance and spill the beans. Only then could I be confident that the collateral damage was worth the effort. It's possible her fiance would believe her side -- you'd have to hand over her phone to him to make any dent in his devotion to her -- if not, it could be seen as a bitter child who's looking for payback .As far as damaging your relationship with your mother, weigh how that will affect your future -- in all respects.

Dear Miss Emily:

Hi Emily:

First of all, I am in my thirties and went through a divorce from an abusive marriage. I've been in a new relationship for the past 2 1/2 years. The new guy and I clicked really well and he treats me so good. Problem is, he's never been married and I was married for 13 years. I have two kids, he doesn't have kids. After six months together he moved in with me and after a year I figured he would take the relationship another step but he then told me he had to be with someone at least 2 years before he could commit. It's been 2 1/2 years now and he says that he's still not sure if he wants to marry me.  He says he loves me and wants to be with me forever.  We act like husband and wife only without the legal papers. I get so frustrated because I'm not sure where things stand. When I bring it up to him, he listens with not much of a response and then the conversation gets forgotten. How sure does he have to be?  What about me is going to change rather it be sooner or later?

--------------------------------Miss Emily's advice---------------------------

Some women want marriage, and there's nothing wrong with that. But we all know plenty of marriages go sour and a ring on the finger is no guarantee a relationship with last forever. He might simply not like the idea of marriage because of the legal commitments. He's never been married and, because so many marriages are fractured, he might also think it's too risky to rock the boat and end up like a lot of his friends. I understand that beside marriage being a legal issue, it is also a mindset and it does bespeak a "special commitment." But that is not what he's thinking, and you have to weigh the pros and cons. If he's a great guy and you have a good relationship, maybe it's best to let this desire for marriage rest -- take the pressure off yourself, and him, and see where that takes you. Marriage to him is no guarantee he'd stick around if he felt like leaving the relationship. That said, if this is all that important to you, give him an ultimatum! But I think you'd be disappointed with his response based on what you have told me.

Dear Miss Emily:

I have been sating this guy for 5 months. Early on he told me his last relationship had ended because he had cheated.  He says to this day he knows he did a terrible thing and feels very remorseful about it. I've always believed what someone did before they meet me didn't matter but I'm having a hard time with this.  He was engaged to this woman and cheated on her not once but many times with the same woman over the course of a 2 year span. Am I over reacting? He hasn't done anything to make me think he won't be faithful to me. I have mentioned to him that this bothers me and he said he doesn't know what to say or do to make more feel better about it and know that it won't happen again. Am I crazy and should just let it go? Any advice?

---------------------------------Miss Emily's advice------------------------

This relationship won't work unless you can let go`and not dwell on something you cannot change. I think his honesty concerning this issue is a good sign, and he obviously wasn't ready for a commitment of marriage. You can't constantly worry that he'll do the same to you! (Of course, you could -- but that would ruin the relationship). Give him the benefit of the doubt at this point in time. I always suggest to my readers, when this problem comes up, say this:  "If ever you feel this relationship isn't working and you want to see someone else, just let me be the first to know. I make a promise to you that I won't go ballistic, because the truth is more important to me than being played for a fool." Now, go have a good time in this relationship. There are few guarantees in life other than death and taxes.