I (25F) am in my first serious relationship and it's on the verge of collapsing over a nickname. My childhood best friend, Fred (26M), has always called me "my dear." He calls EVERYONE this, it's just his thing. But my new boyfriend, James (21M), absolutely loses his mind over it. He's convinced it's a secret, intimate code and proof that Fred wants me. The paranoia went nuclear after a party where Fred, who is openly non-monogamous, drunkenly kissed another friend. James now sees this as a preview of what Fred plans to do with me, painting my friend as a predator who's just waiting to make his move. Here's the kicker: James and Fred have never even met. All of this insane drama is based on James's gut feeling and his refusal to trust me. Is this a massive, glowing red flag that he's dangerously insecure and controlling, or am I being naive about my friend's real intentions? I'm turning to the Avonetics community for the verdict on this relationship minefield. For advertising opportunities, visit Avonetics.com.