The first assumption SN made (as most do) is that I'm in love with the guy and want him to leave his wife to be with me.
Wow, I have a friend the same way and because it's a male/female dynamic that's the first thing most readers chime in about: that I have feelings for him or vice versa. I never call about him. They just pick up a recent male figure in my life who has been trying to contact me. When I ask if I know him previously, many start to describe him.
From my perspective I've never had any romantic feelings for him at all. We connected over a similar career and would talk about that at length and then we had a disagreemen
t, fell out and I no longer want him to talk to him at all. Even outside female acquaintanc
es thought we were involved that way, although I don't know specificall
y what I said or how they interpreted our conversatio
ns; nor what made them think that.
It seems to be an automatic response anytime opposite sex's are involved because I'm sure relationshi
ps feel the same way to readers whether it's a relationshi
p with a co-worker (work-relationship); sister/brother (sibling-relationship); mother/father (parent relationshi
p), etc.
In general, anytime I bring up another man (which I have about school or work) that is the first place the reader jumps to - intimacy.
