AITA for leaving a friend off my birthday guest list because she never invites me over?
AITACaro asked why everyone from our usual group was going to my birthday except her. I told her, "I wanted to invite people who make an effort back."
There was room for eight guests at my flat. I invited seven people from our group and a newer friend from work. Caro heard about it while we were arranging another outing.
I'd been thinking about how often I host and how rarely she invites me anywhere. She lives with her parents, so hosting at home isn't easy. I knew that, but I still felt as though I was always making the plans.
She said she'd asked me for coffee three times that spring and paid twice, and that I had canceled the last one. That's all true. Those meetings hadn't counted in the mental list I was making because they weren't group occasions.
I told her the guest list wasn't meant as a punishment. She asked what else my explanation could mean.
I do like the coworker I invited, and I'm allowed to want different people at a birthday. But I didn't simply say I wanted to include a new friend. I gave Caro a judgment about her effort using a very selective account of what she'd done. She says she doesn't want a replacement invitation. AITA for leaving her out?