Dear Maggie,

I have two best friends, let’s call them Mark and Sally. Sally’s been my best friend since high school and Mark since college. Anyway, the four of us, my boyfriend and I and the two of them, have been like the four musketeers for like, ten years now. That is, we were, until my boyfriend dumped me.

I was pretty devastated. I’d have never been able to get over it if it hadn’t been for Mark and Sally. They spent tons of time with me, took me out, got me to get off the couch and comb my hair and actually do something. They saved my life.

Now they’re engaged, and I’m Sally’s maid of honor. So again, I’ve been spending lots of time with them – more with Mark than Sally, as she’s so busy making wedding plans and running around. And I’ve found that my feelings for Mark are changing. I feel more than friendship for him. Sometimes thoughts slip into my mind that have no business being there and sometimes I have romantic, sexual dreams about him.

I would never ever act on any of these feelings. But it’s hard being involved in their wedding plans, being around them all the time, and keeping my feelings hidden. Besides, even after the wedding, I don’t want to lose their friendship. How do I manage to stay friends with both of them, resist these feelings and make them go away while never ever revealing them to either of my friends?

By the way, Mark has never even hinted that he feels anything like this for me. He’s totally in love with Sally.

Anyway, thanks for any help you can give me.

Sincerely,

Forbidden Desire