Just good friends?

I think it was in Harry met Sally that there was the classic line of “men and women can’t be friends, sex always gets in the way.”. So, is this true? I have a few male friends, some closer than others. With the majority of them, sleeping with them would not even cross my mind, it’s never arisen (so to speak!) and I really can’t see a situation where it would. Sure, with a couple of them, we flirt, but it genuinely means nothing. One is happily married and with the other it’s only when we’re both drunk, in neither of these cases does it mean anything at all, apart from a bit of fun. I know both their partners and it’s not an issue.

But there is one. We’re quite close and often see each other just on our own, we do go out in a group too but our friendship is mainly conducted on a one to one basis. Our friendship has evolved into one based on talking about sex and porn and flirting outrageously with each other. Every time we meet there is a lot of sexual innuendo, initiated on both sides. This is the same whether we are alone or in a group. We are very touchy feely with each other and invade each others space a lot. To be honest I think this has just become a habit between us, one that neither of us think that much about and just act as we always do.

Maybe that’s the thing. For the majority of time, sex will not get between male and female friends, certainly nothing beyond innocent flirting. But maybe, every now and again, you become friends with someone of the opposite sex where sex will be an issue between you, acted on or not, unspoken or not. I certainly hold my male friends close to me. Where else can you get an endless supply of a variety of males for different occasions, some protect you, some can act as dates and others can do your DIY.