I (30F) have been friends with my friend (30F) since high school. We both live in the same major city and are looking to date/marry and grow our professional careers.

Me and my friend have been tag teaming social events and networking. We’ve done a good job of sending each other events and being a plus one.

I recently joined an exclusive social club that comes with a pricey monthly tag. They’ve had great socials and I’ve extended an invite to said friend for a few of them. It was all great until at a few of them I noticed a few weird things, her introducing me to some of my club members as “the mini version of her” or her once saying that “I’m going to be her next project” (she is involved in beauty pageants etc, I am not involved and I’m not a “project”, walking in front of me and not beside me. I do struggle with social anxiety as an FYI but I’m working through it.

At an event a few months ago with her and some of her friends, the friends offered to add me to a group chat where they talk about social events coming up etc, but she had told the friend not to add me (I brushed it off). While I was extended an invite to the social we all attended, I did not get an invite to after events that required a ticket and she knew about.

I was able to get tickets to an event at another exclusive social club (through my membership) last year. At said event, my friend connected with a gentleman who works there and they’ve stayed in touch. He extended an invite for her to come to the club for a social yesterday, and he allowed her to bring one guest (she asked for 2 but he said occupancy is tight). She texted me to say that she wants to bring another friend as the plus one as that friend and their partner are looking to advance their careers and it would be advantageous for them (as in I won’t be the plus one), I said no problem enjoy. I now have access to an event at that same club next week which she wants to go to, and while I could extend an invite, I’m inclined to go solo or bring a different friend.

I don’t want to feel like I’m being used as a “come up”, I don’t want to always feel obligated to bring her either, sometimes I want to go alone and force myself out of my comfort zone (which I’ve been doing and loving it). Would I be the asshole to text her saying that I got tickets but I’d like to bring someone else (this is the same thing that was done to me this week)?

Edit: it’s important for me to have friends outside the few that I have now (one of my goals for 2025 is to expand my social circle) and I feel like by going to all these events I’m just merging the 2.