Do the right thing

[jelly_fish]

One of my best friends, Mouse, cheated on her boyfriend, K, with one of his best friends, Atlas. Now, K adores Mouse, but they had made a pact that they would tell each other if ever they decided to have sex with someone else. Mouse meets Atlas and says it’s love at first sight and she flirts with him for a few months. When she finds out he is

Comments

[wander]

I could insert different names into the first situation and tell you exactly how that one will turn out. I think many of us can unfortunately. Good luck with that one.

W

[jelly_fish]

Yep. I knew how it would turn out the moment she told me about it. Though, it may not be what you think. She told her boyfriend and he wants to continue a relationship with her and is "refusing" to let her break up with him.

[choptliver]

It seems contrary to the standard "honesty is the best policy" thing, but I vote that she doesn't tell him. She's in pain, and telling him to ease her conscience is the easy way out, it just transfers the pain to someone else. I think she should have to learn from it and carry it all inside herself. She can channel the energy from the pain into improving her relationship with K. He may find out eventually, and there will be trouble, but that's all part of the package she signed up for when she cheated.

If she finds she must have others, maybe she should investigate polyamory, where all is agreed from the beginning.

[jelly_fish]

I agree with you except knowing Mouse the way I do I knew she would eventually tell K, probably blurting it out in a drunken arguement. I figured it would be better for her to tell him now instead of him finding out that way. Usually, I would agree with the "keep it to yourself" approach.
And, I have talked to her about polyamory in the past. But, she was not very receptive.
You don't know any good books on the subject, do you?

[choptliver]

Ah yes, that changes things.

I'm not poly myself, so I don't know for sure about good books, but a title I keep encountering is "The Ethical Slut." It might be a good place to start.

[jelly_fish]

Funny title! I'll check it out. Thanks for the advice!