| Dear Carolyn: My boyfriend is that guest who will not leave. When he’s having a good time, he will refuse to acknowledge social cues that the hosts would like us to go, to the point where it is incredibly rude. We were over at some friends’ house last Saturday and the couple cooked us a delicious meal. Afterward, we were finishing up the wine and chatting. I saw the wife yawning and said we should be going, but my boyfriend kept saying, “Oh, no, we can’t break up the party this soon.” Then the husband pointedly said they had to get up early the next day. I got it and again tried to leave, but my boyfriend didn’t budge, so the husband said it again. I’m cringing and nudging my boyfriend, who is chatting away and ignoring me until they stood up and started packing the food away and putting the dishes in the dishwasher. I said good night and made a rush for the door with my boyfriend reluctantly following. Later, he asked me what the problem was. This is the only socially inept thing he does, but he does it so much that people joke about it behind his back. At a party, I heard someone asking the host couple if they had a plan for getting rid of my boyfriend before midnight. He’s convinced it’s all me, I’m too introverted and always want to break up the party too soon. I’m thinking of starting to say to him, “They want us to leave now, so we have to go,” while encouraging the hosts to be blunt with him. Is this something you think I can pull off? — We Have to Go Answer this week’s reader question Here's your chance to channel your inner Carolyn Hax and respond to a reader question By Carolyn Hax and Haben Kelati | | | |
