I’ve learned to stop reading these kind of stories because of my pain at the end. I’m with thefreeair, the childhood friend is just not it. He’s too old and kind of a scumbag. The girl is not mature enough to see what’s in store. I like the second guy as he cares for her and would not treat her badly. But he ain’t winning.
I really hate these innocent good girl saves the bad boy who is really a good guy with baggage. In real life the guy trounces on the girl and breaks her heart. Don’t try to save men who don’t want to be saved. Give him them references to therapists and run.
Anyway, dropped.