Dr. Date,

I have fallen in love with a friend who just broke up with his girlfriend (he said he didn’t feel the same for her anymore). We were very happy together, like we would think about and text each other almost every minute of the day. But then his girlfriend kept trying to be back together with him (they’ve been together for 3.5 years), and he said he didn’t want to be gay so he chose to be back with her and stopped talking with me. I know that’s hard for him, too. I was crying every day, but now I am doing better. How should I view this and should we still be friends or should I forget him?

Thank you!

—Hurt And Lonely

Lonesome Gopher,

As a rule, I always say to go for the friendship gold. If there’s a chance that your friendship will be healthy and awesome, then go for it. But if you’re going to spend the whole time pining over how sweet he is, then forget it. You seem like a nice guy, and you deserve to find happiness elsewhere.

—Dr. Date

Dr. Date,

I’ve been seeing this girl for about a month now. She’s absolutely gorgeous and really easy to talk to. We have a lot in common, except for one thing: Her taste in music is atrocious. I mean really bad. This wouldn’t be as much of an issue, but she seems completely disinterested when I try to play some of my favorite bands and has even started complaining about the music I play in the car when we’re out. Music is a big part of my life, and I feel like this could be a deal breaker for me. Is that shallow? Should I break it off or try to meet her halfway?

—Out Of Tune

Tune Up,

Hey Rob, have you ever considered that she thinks you have terrible taste in music? Your letter operates on the shaky platform that some music is simply better than other music, when the truth is that you just like some music better than you like other music. Open your eyes, if they’re not too strained from repeated viewings of “High Fidelity.”

Are you and your girl starting a record label together or are you just dating? You don’t need to “convert” her into liking your ska-reggae-funk jams, and she doesn’t need to be a willing convert. Take it easy, and maybe just listen to the sounds of silence.

—Dr. Date

Dr. Date,

My mom and I are going on a trip, and one night along the way we are staying at the house of a family friend whose son (who still lives there) and I were a little … involved in the past. Our families have known each other our whole lives so we didn’t tell anyone for fear of making the family relationships awkward. Should I tell my mom before we stay at their house or should I just face the awkwardness in stride and hope he does the same?

—Family Friendlies

Um, Family Friend,

If you think you really need to hold in your raging shame, then heck, keep it inside. Pack some strong foundation to brush away your red cheeks and hope that your ex-flame/family friend does the same.

But if you think your mom is chill, then go ahead and tell her. It might feel awkward for a minute, as “There’s something I want you to know,” is a phrase that’s rarely followed up with anything but a pregnant pause. But I suspect your mom will laugh it off, and hopefully she’ll help you realize what you already know — this isn’t a big deal! You can all eat shish kebobs together still. Beware the hilarity that may ensue, as I suspect some members of your family will be jazzed and want to set y’all right back up again.

—Dr. Date