The “Guy Best Friend”
A tale as old as time: he’s just a friend.
BY Katie Browne ★ April 10th, 2026
Design by: Maisy Wood
Not to be a cynic, but I simply do not believe in it. I don't believe that pineapple belongs on pizza, that Ross and Rachel were on a break, or that men and women, boys and girls, can be best friends.
I am not saying that they can’t be friends at all. I'm all for friendships, but best friends? I believe the line between a significant other and a guy best friend is quite fine.
You have your girl best friends to cry, tell secrets, laugh, and relate to. You have your guy friends that you hang around with and, you know… probably get annoyed with at times. But your guy best friend? He shares the same intimate level as your girls but has yet to cross the threshold in order for it to become romantic.
The girl-guy best friend trope is only possible because one likes the other. Think about it: how many of these guy-and-girl best friend relationships that you know of have stayed solely platonic, without someone ending up in tears or “accidental” kisses? Probably not that many.
Do you think your relationship is the exception to this?
Yes, he is only a friend. You aren't attracted to him—fair. But if this man, who is your self-proclaimed guy best friend, knows everything about you, the good, the bad, and the ugly, and he still stays around, ask yourself why. Maybe he’s the one who’s attracted to you.
No. You are the rule. You’ve been in denial, brushing off the feelings because you guys are “just friends” and you don't want to ruin your amazing friendship, and that it’s safer to stay in the “friendzone.”
All I'm saying is that if you need a sign to act on your feelings toward your “guy best friend,” this is your sign. So what if you act on these emotions and he doesn’t reciprocate them? You won’t have to live in agony listening to him talk about other girls or wondering what could have been, and you can move on. And if he was ever truly a real friend, he would not judge or make a fool out of your honesty.
If you still believe your friendship has not fallen victim to romance, maybe you are the heartbreaker. Only time will tell.
But hey, don't do anything crazy. What do I know? All I know is that when someone makes you laugh, feel safe, excited, and comfortable, that's love. Maybe you feel it, maybe you don't. But someone does.
Edited by: Anna Altman