DEAR ABBY: For the past year I have been seeing a wonderful man named "Al." We met only three months after he was widowed, but he felt strongly that we should date only each other. The attraction was mutual, so I agreed.
Al has a male friend he looks up to, for reasons I don't understand. This friend has the reputation of bedding down a different woman every night of the week. I know for a fact he tries to sway Al to go out with other women.
Lately Al has been hinting that he wants to go to lunch or dinner with other women "just to talk" -- nothing else.
At a dance we attend together every week, Al meets other women on the "mix," where you dance a few dances with other partners. I have seen women come on to him, as he is a nice-looking, clean-cut guy and a good dancer. Men come on to me, too, but I would never give them my phone number or line up dates with them.
Al feels strongly about me, and I about him, but because of the constant prodding of his oversexed friend -- and women running after him -- I am unsure how to handle this situation. I am hurt that Al could even consider the idea of seeing other women.
Abby, please advise me. -- HURT IN BOCA RATON, FLA.
DEAR HURT: The most effective way to handle this is to deal with it head-on. Ask Al if he is having second thoughts about your exclusive relationship. If he is, you need to know it right away so that you can begin to date others, too.