A couple of weeks ago, I matched with a girl on Tinder, and we've been chatting ever since. We recently moved our conversations to WhatsApp, but we haven’t met in person yet because she’s currently traveling, and I didn’t have time before she left.

Now, a longtime friend of mine has asked me out on a date, and I agreed—not because I’m looking to replace the Tinder girl, but because I’m curious to see if there’s romantic potential between my friend and me. I see this as an opportunity to explore my feelings and figure out if there’s a connection that’s worth pursuing.

I’m not exclusive with the Tinder girl, and there have been no commitments between us. That said, if things don’t work out with my friend, I’ll likely still meet up with the Tinder girl when she’s back. This is where I feel conflicted. On one hand, I think I’m just keeping my options open, which is normal in early dating. But on the other hand, I feel like if I told my friends, they might say it’s an asshole move to be talking to two people at once, even though nothing serious has been established.

So, am I the asshole for going on a date with my friend while still considering meeting the Tinder girl later?