Dear Bedpost,
I’ve been single for all three years of my college career thus far, but recently I started hanging out with a girl who I felt might change all that. Just as my mind was naturally racing from asking her out to imagining how awkward it would be to have “the talk” with our future daughter, my dreams were shattered when my roommate told me the aforementioned girl slept with my other roommate right after he broke up with his long-time girlfriend. I just want to avoid any awkward situations. I know I wouldn’t exactly want a one-time deal to be hanging around with my apartment like the food in an Orbit commercial. I have no way of knowing what really happened, if anything.
Dear reader,
Kristin:
This is a super toughie because a one-night stand is much different than the apparent love affair y’all have going on here. I’m sure we’d all be a little weirded out if our future romantic interest had shacked up with someone down the hall.
I know you said you can’t ask either one of them directly, but honestly, would it be so bad to ask your roommate in a casual way? If they’re anything like mine, they’ll be understanding. Don’t be too intense, don’t treat it like a call out, just ask simply. Again, communication is key.
If you don’t feel comfortable with that, honestly, all you can do is accept that this has happened and see if it’s worth it to you. What this girl and your roommate may or may not have done is old news.
If you think it may be an awkward situation, make sure she and your roommate know that you want to make it as safe a place as possible. It’s not going to be easy, but if you genuinely think you two could have something, it’ll be worth the fight.
Eventually, everyone’s gotta move on. If it’s meant to be, they’ll suck it up and honestly, it can’t be awkward forever; you’ll be aight.
Ian:
It’s interesting that immediately after you find out there’s a possibility this girl slept with your roommate, you started comparing her to an annoying odor used to sell chewing gum.
Also interesting is that you say you can’t ask either of them what happened. I beg to differ. Maybe you don’t want to, and that’s fine in terms of avoiding the awkward scenarios. But if you really want to know the truth, asking is the best way to get it.
That said, you could take the risky route and launch a full-on private eye investigation of the night in question.
Find out anyone who saw the two of them on that night. Ask how the rapport was between them, if there were some telling glances, maybe an arm around some shoulders, anything that would indicate something naughty might have occurred later.
Then get a fingerprint dusting kit. Trick the girl into giving you copies of her prints. Then dust your roommate’s room and body. If it comes up, you’ve got your perp.
Or, you know, just ask them.
Kristin is a junior studying journalism and culture editor at The Post.Ian is a junior studying journalism. Got a sticky roommate situation? Write to us at thebedpostpeople@gmail.com.
