My boyfriend is very close with another woman. Can men and women really be just friends?

Question: "I'm a 25-year-old woman am currently dating a 24-year-old guy. I am his first girlfriend and we have been dating for almost a year. Recently, my boyfriend came over for dinner and answered a FaceTime call from another girl who is one of his best friends. My mother was also in the room and said that he should not have answered the call. I have met this girl before as she has been his friend for a long time. Ever since my mother said something, I have noticed he talks to this girl all day long and will ignore me while he is texting her.

She constantly FaceTimes him, and he answers every single time. I am unsure how to approach the topic. I have told him that in the past I have been cheated on under similar circumstances. My ex-boyfriend was really good friends with a girl and would rely on her more than me. I am afraid this is the case this time too. What should I do?"

I found out my husband is sexually attracted to my sister: I don't know what to do.

Answer: The situation you describe is actually pretty common. I'm going to hand this off to my friend and regular "Two Hot Takes" guest co-host Lauren Rolfe because she went through something similar in her last relationship. I think she can give you some insight on establishing boundaries, which is going to be critical in your current predicament. Lauren, what do you think?

"The debate about heterosexual couples having opposite sex friends is such a hot button issue. And it's nothing new. There's a quote from the 1989 romantic comedy 'When Harry Met Sally' when Billy Crystal's character declares: 'Men and women can't be friends because the sex part always gets in the way.' Indeed, some people feel their partners can't just be friends with the opposite sex.

Is this normal? My 25-year-old husband wants me to stay home and 'cocoon.'

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And there have actually been some studies, like this one, that show while women can separate friendship and sexual desire to form platonic relationships, men are more likely to have ulterior movies.

This isn't to say that your boyfriend has feelings for his friend, but it is warranted for you to wonder if his relationship with her is crossing a boundary.

When do I end it? My boyfriend hasn't taken me on a date in 4 years and refuses to be intimate

For many people, a relationship is about quality time and connection with their partner. So, watching your significant other give his time, attention and vulnerability to another female could feel like emotional cheating. Are you OK with your significant other having such an intimate relationship with this friend? Is it your mom's worries that spurred this? Would a limit on the frequency of communication he has with this friend and time they are spending together make it more acceptable for you?

In your case, since he is already very close with his female friend, it may strain your relationship with him if you tried to sever his friendship with her. And that may even be a personal boundary for him that he's not willing to change.

It's unfair to give someone ultimatums or force them out of a friendship that is important to them. My advice is to tell him exactly how you feel about it. But prior to having an open conversation, try to pinpoint your exact feelings. For example, does this make you feel insecure, like you're less of a priority to him or like you're not emotionally connecting enough? Let him know exactly what you are looking for in a relationship and what you would be comfortable with. Then, the ball will be in his court to either make a change or find a compromise that you're both comfortable with. Just be as clear as possible about your needs and expectation, and if he cannot take them into account, be brave enough to protect your boundaries and happiness."

I hope this helps!

Lauren and Morgan

Morgan Absher is an occupational therapist in Los Angeles who hosts the podcast, "Two Hot Takes" where she and her co-hosts dish out advice. She writes a weekly column, sharing her advice with USA TODAY's readers. Find her on TikTok @twohottakes and YouTube here. You can reach her by email at Mabsher@gannett.com or you can click here to share your story with her.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Relationship advice: Can men and women really be just friends?