In love with an older friend.
I’m 26M and I’ve developed strong feelings for a 45F friend of mine.
We met through mutual friends at a language exchange party and became close fairly quickly. She’s originally from northern Italy, and I’ve always felt very comfortable around her in a way I don’t usually experience with people. Conversations between us feel easy and natural, and I feel understood by her.
On a recent camping trip with mutual friends, we ended up sharing a sleeping space and kissed once. Since then, my feelings have grown a lot. I can’t stop thinking about her, and I’ve realized I’ve fallen in love with her.
I want to be honest with her about how I feel, but I’m also aware of the age gap and the fact that we’re in the same friend group. I don’t want to make things awkward or put pressure on her, or risk damaging the friendship if she doesn’t feel the same way.
I’m unsure about whether I should tell her directly, how to phrase it, or if I should hold back.
Any advice or perspective would really help.