Prudence is joined this week by Shruti Swamy, author of the short story collection A House Is a Body and the recipient of two O. Henry Awards. She lives in San Francisco.

Prudie and Swamy tackle letters about how to handle a roommate who insists on interrupting your dates by bringing her cat out to play with you, what to do about being excluded from friends’ social events because you’re single, how to decline a friend’s wedding due to pandemic concerns and not offend them, whether you should see the same therapist as your crush, and what actions to take with a close friend who only talks about themselves.

Access all of Prudie’s podcasts and columns here.

Got a question for Prudie? Send it to prudence@slate.com or leave a voicemail message at 401-371-DEAR (3327), and you may hear your question answered on a future episode of the show.

Production by Phil Surkis.