Don’t make a friend choose between you and someone else. You lose either way.

Forcing a choice damages you even when you win. If they pick you, you have taught them that your affection is conditional and they will file that away. If they pick the other person, you have handed them a reason, and the memory of the ultimatum outlasts whatever you were arguing about. Either way, the friendship now has a price tag on it.

When you are hurt about being left out, say exactly that instead of making it a loyalty test. One sentence about what you felt beats any demand about who they can see. And if somebody puts that choice to you, name it out loud rather than picking.