Strange date experience the other night, would be interested in hearing other perspectives

Sorry this is long

Went on a first date Thursday evening, we met up at a small art gallery then went out to dinner. At the restaurant, we happened to run into a couple of her friends. We ended up sitting and eating together and then went to a hookah lounge together (something I should point out: it was my date's idea to hang out with her friends for the rest of the evening)

One of her friends was very into me, and this friend was charming and cuter than my date, but I didn't want to be "that guy" and didn't pay her any special attention. She did talk to me a lot and ask me questions (and offered to buy me a drink, though I didn't take her up on it), and I made pleasant conversation with her, but again, I didn't go out of my way to give her extra attention. This friend also invited me to an event happening the next night with all three of them (my date and the two friends). My date had already invited me to the event and I'd already thought about going

At the end of the night, I said goodbye to them and went home. I texted my date to say I enjoyed my time with them and looked forward to seeing them again at the event on Friday. She replied with "I'm glad. Btw, I noticed you getting comfortable with my friend. I just want to let you know that she's taken and has been in a relationship for seven years", then went on to tell me how she didn't appreciate that I ignored her all night and was giving her "short, snarky replies". I didn't do either - I talked to her the same I did anyone else and responded to her when she talked to me

I was honest with her and said that I didn't think there was a romantic connection between us, but I would genuinely enjoy being friends and doing things around the city together. She just repeated that I barely talked to her and it made her "feel bad"

Here's the thing: I already wasn't feeling any romantic chemistry before her friends showed up (we'd been hanging out for about an hour before meeting her friends), and obviously it wasn't my call that we hung out for the entire evening, nor was it my fault her friend was into me. I was going to gently let her down and suggest just being friends regardless of whether her friends had been part of the night

I've never experienced any of this before - friends suddenly becoming part of a date, one of those friends being attracted to me, or the girl I was on a date with getting jealous and basically throwing it in my face. I thought it was strange she even brought it up considering this was a first (and now last) date - if I was in the same situation, I'd have just said "Thanks for a nice night, but I don't see this working out" and left it at that. I showed the texts to a friend of mine and my friend said "She seems like she had high expectations for the date and was double let down by both you not being into her and her friend hitting on you. But that's not your fault"

Would be curious to hear others' takes and insights on this

Submitted August 01, 2022 at 12:15AM

Sorry this is longWent on a first date Thursday evening, we met up at a small art gallery then went out to dinner. At the restaurant, we happened to run into a couple of her friends. We ended up sitting and eating together and then went to a hookah lounge together (something I should point out: it was my date's idea to hang out with her friends for the rest of the evening)One of her friends was very into me, and this friend was charming and cuter than my date, but I didn't want to be "that guy" and didn't pay her any special attention. She did talk to me a lot and ask me questions (and offered to buy me a drink, though I didn't take her up on it), and I made pleasant conversation with her, but again, I didn't go out of my way to give her extra attention. This friend also invited me to an event happening the next night with all three of them (my date and the two friends). My date had already invited me to the event and I'd already thought about goingAt the end of the night, I said goodbye to them and went home. I texted my date to say I enjoyed my time with them and looked forward to seeing them again at the event on Friday. She replied with "I'm glad. Btw, I noticed you getting comfortable with my friend. I just want to let you know that she's taken and has been in a relationship for seven years", then went on to tell me how she didn't appreciate that I ignored her all night and was giving her "short, snarky replies". I didn't do either - I talked to her the same I did anyone else and responded to her when she talked to meI was honest with her and said that I didn't think there was a romantic connection between us, but I would genuinely enjoy being friends and doing things around the city together. She just repeated that I barely talked to her and it made her "feel bad"Here's the thing: I already wasn't feeling any romantic chemistry before her friends showed up (we'd been hanging out for about an hour before meeting her friends), and obviously it wasn't my call that we hung out for the entire evening, nor was it my fault her friend was into me. I was going to gently let her down and suggest just being friends regardless of whether her friends had been part of the nightI've never experienced any of this before - friends suddenly becoming part of a date, one of those friends being attracted to me, or the girl I was on a date with getting jealous and basically throwing it in my face. I thought it was strange she even brought it up considering this was a first (and now last) date - if I was in the same situation, I'd have just said "Thanks for a nice night, but I don't see this working out" and left it at that. I showed the texts to a friend of mine and my friend said "She seems like she had high expectations for the date and was double let down by both you not being into her and her friend hitting on you. But that's not your fault"Would be curious to hear others' takes and insights on this