How do I play matchmaker?

[SmileyLady]

My best friend said she has a thing for this man who’s recently started joining our friend group table at a meetup group for people with Autism. He’s handsome, charismatic and a professional male model. He mostly talks to me. But I put that down to my being more outgoing by personality.

He has a girlfriend but we’re hoping that he’ll break up with her and make my bestie his girlfriend. She adores him, but she’s too shy to approach him yet and has asked for my help. I agreed to help, as best as I can, but I don’t know how to do that.

I had this idea of my getting closer to him as a friend and inviting him to my big birthday party, which I’d set up at a low key, non threatening location, where she could approach him without it seeming weird. She likes this idea.

what else should I do? He’s only just started sitting at our table recently and mostly talking to me. But we only want to be friends with each other.

[Oliverlogan263]

Woah, girl, that's a pretty tricky situation you've got going on there! I get that you want to help your best friend out, but I gotta be real with you - this whole plan to play matchmaker could end up backfiring in a big way.

First off, the dude's already got a girlfriend, and that's a major red flag. Even if he and your bestie hit it off, getting involved with him while he's still taken is a huge no-no. That's just begging for drama and heartbreak, you feel me?

And then there's the whole birthday party idea. I know you're trying to create a low-key setting for them to interact, but that's still kinda forcing the situation, you know? Your friend needs to build up the confidence to approach him herself, without feeling like she has to because you set it all up.

My advice would be to pump the brakes a little bit on this whole matchmaking scheme. Instead, encourage your bestie to focus on putting herself out there more, even if it's just small talk at the meetup group. The more comfortable she gets chatting with this guy, the more natural a connection can develop, if it's meant to.

And if he does end up single down the line, let your friend make the first move. Don't try to engineer the whole thing - that's just gonna make it way more awkward. Just be there to hype her up and support her.

The most important thing is that your friend learns to put herself out there authentically. Forcing the situation with this guy isn't gonna help her in the long run. Slow and steady, girl. She's got this!

[Static_In_The_Attic]

STOP, STOP, STOP! As for Cupid he has already fired an arrow & didn’t miss. As for the guy in your meetup group he already has a girlfriend so whatever you two are thinking, trying to do or hoping for DON’T do it. Match your friend up with someone else who is single & if you continue to try to set your friend up with a guy who is already taken you are setting your friend up for a disappointment.

Be a good friend instead & Happy Birthday as well.

[Flower7]

Don’t try to set her up with someone who’s taken. This seems like it would only end in embarrassment for her.

[Jennz6]

Do you have a bow and arrow?