My gf and I have been fighting every single day recently, and thoughts of a breakup were even thrown back and forth. She thought that we were probably just spending too much time together and wanted to do her own thing with her friends on Friday. I said okay, and messaged a buddy if he wanted to meet up, and said he was down. What's funny is the minute I made plans she calls me and says she feels bad for telling me she didn't want me to hang out with her and her friends. I told her I already made plans. She asked if I could just bring him to where she was hanging out, and I said, "No, sorry, we're already going to ***, but you can come join us if you want later." I knew I needed to demonstrate indifference to her without being callous. How the rest of the night went really helped to heal our relationship.

Going solo: My friend is running late, and instead of waiting for him, I just walk into the bar solo. I've done this many times, and while it did feel awkward (haven't done this in 6+ months), it also felt familiar. Make friends with the bouncer, check. Re-introduce self to bartenderesses, check. Get a drink. My state sucks right now, and for a second, I think I've forgotten everything I learned. I decided to stand near the door sipping on my drink, watching people enter. A group of guys seems like they're having a great time right next to me, and I start to remember how to warmup. Talk to guys, before you talk to girls. I notice one of the shirts one of them is wearing and ask one of the guys about it.

First girl: Start a conversation, and one of his friends reaches past a girl right behind me, and she seems a little annoyed. Default move: "Hi!" She responds with a slightly nervous "Hi" I grab her shoulder, look her straight in the eye, turn my body to her, and make a joke about people invading personal space. She laughs and plays with her hair. I introduce her to my new guy friend, and she introduces us to her (AFC) guy friend. My guy friend starts talking to the AFC, and I make another joke and hug her. I probably would have kissed her on the cheek if I were single. I start talking to the AFC, and my new guy friend starts talking to her, at which point my buddy shows up. I introduce everyone to him, and just start talking to him, leaving the AFC by himself. My new guy friend told me later that we apparently made the AFC really angry by gaming his romantic interest, and told me I was awesome to hang with. Poor AFC. I've been in his shoes before.

Girl at the bar: I buy my buddy a drink, and call the bartenderess by name to get her attention and order. I notice a girl next to me and ask her how her night is going. Blah blah blah boring interview questions with some jokes. She makes fun of my job, and I just repeat her word back to her with a smile, and she gets a little embarrassed. I keep the conversation going, and she gives me a lot of IOIs. I go back to my buddy, and my gf shows up with her entourage. The girl at the bar comes up to me and tells me she's sorry for making fun of me. I introduce her to my girlfriend and my buddy. She's a little caught off guard by the girlfriend, but starts talking to my buddy. Apparently he got her phone number later in the night and is going on a date with her this week. Win.

Some more of my friends show up, and I go into happy mode, going up to random people and cheering them. It's pretty fun. My girlfriend notices that I'm self-sufficiently happy and we leave the bar together. She asked me about that one girl on our way back to my apt. "Was that girl flirting with you?" "Umm, yes." "Oh, God, that turns me on."

We haven't fought since.

TLDR: It's good to go out to the bars and hit on girls, even when you're in a relationship.