**Context**: I (18M) have been talking to someone (21 NB) I met on bumble for 3 months. We call a lot, watch movies together, and generally are pretty flirty. I’ve made it clear i’m not looking for anything serious until I graduate next month, and they have totally respected my boundaries and reminded me of them when i got emotional. Yesterday, we had a fun hang out with us, my friend, and their friend. We went to the movies, and I held their hand and we did kiss.
**About me**: I turned 18 in January, and I’m attending college in the fall. I’m also Autistic, and have had a lot of shitty grooming experiences online when i was a really young teen. I’ve had a few partners and have romantic experience.
**About them**: 21, 22 in July. Has their GED, and works as a manager at a chain store. ADHD (+ probably autism) and hasn’t had a relationship that wasn’t online. Super introvert and has a low self confidence, but has a nice group of friends irl. They live in the next city over. Their first kiss was with me
**The Dilemma**: My friends are skeptical of them being interested in me, and in them in general. They are worried I’m going to be groomed, but as someone who has experienced that, I truly think they are extremely sweet, just haven’t had accessibility to what people think is “normal” (steady home life, friends, access to school , ect) due to their situation and that’s “”delayed”” them a bit. My friends are mostly worried about the age gap. Is our age difference weird?
1 comment
If you’re being groomed, I wouldn’t think it’s because of your age difference. An 18 year old is fresh but a 21 year old doesn’t exactly have life figured out either, even if they think they do. However, still be cautious as you never know what’s going on in someone’s head; just don’t be paranoid