(n.) The select group of guys in your life – many of whom you are not explicitly romantically involved with – who play different roles, fulfill different needs, and help you to figure out who you are, what you want, and what kind of relationship you ultimately desire.
(n.) An ambiguous interaction, sometimes face-to-face and sometimes involving technology, that is not explicitly romantic but does not feel entirely platonic either.
The guy who knows you best, eliciting a combination of fond memories and frustrating emotions. For better or worse, he’s on a first-name basis with almost everyone in your life and understands what a pain your mother can be.