A couple months back I met a woman at a BBQ, we hit it off and settled into a convenient FWB situation. She came over tonight, I cooked us dinner and she supplied the wine. As we were finishing our meal I got a phone call from one of my good buddies, his shift was cancelled and a few of the guys were going to the bar.

I told him sorry man but I was entertaining my lady-friend. This followed with the typical shit talking banter among men and then I hung up. A few minutes later when I was cleaning up the dishes she passive-aggresivly poured herself more wine and sulked over to the couch. Fuck.

What's up?

Why did you call me your lady-friend?

That's what you are.

You could have just said friend.

Yes.

Well?

Lady-friend is shorthand for I'm definitely not coming out tonight.

Why did you assume I wouldn't want to go out with you and your friends?

Ok, let's go. They're blue collar types so expect a lot of unfiltered man talk.

I don't want to go out.

Yeah, that's what I assumed.

What do you mean by man talk? That sounds so toxic.

Yep, this back and forth went on for a good five minutes. The good mood of a nice evening in with a cute, career-oriented, modern and independent woman was down the shitter. I played the doting, nice guy, boyfriend role until the moment, like being bludgeoned with a billy club, the simple truth hit me hard.

Why the fuck am I putting up with this shit? I told her nope. It's best if you leave. There is no salvaging this shipwreck. She got pissed and went home and I went to the bar with my buddies.

Having lived with multiple women there is no price to put on the freedom of being able to say, "It's time for you to go." As far as the FWB status is concerned, it was fun while it lasted but these things must always come to an end.

Freedom.