The friend who makes a new friend has not necessarily made less room for you.

Closeness is not a fixed quantity handed out in portions, though it can feel that way when someone you love starts spending time elsewhere. The alarm is old and quick, and it usually arrives well before any evidence. Often what has happened is simply that their life got wider, and yours is still inside it.

If you feel the pinch, ask for what you actually want instead of testing whether it is still on offer. Suggest the specific plan. And if you are the one with a new friend, keep the old routine visible so nobody has to guess.