The hardest thing is at night when we sit down for dinner with the boys. We talk and interact as if nothing is going on. It’s fine but I really need the book so I can learn how to handle these types of situations.
You should read the book because it will help explain a lot of what you read on these forums. But check out the thread about Sandi's rules, those rules are your template on how to behave in these situations. Very briefly- no R talks, no following her around, no pressure, be polite, well-groomed, detached.
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I helped her prepare the food because she asked. It wasn’t much and only took me about 5 minutes.
That's fine. Just have no expectations, because it doesn't really mean anything.
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Later afterwards she laid on the bed close to me for a while. She asked me if we would always be friends. I just answered yes.
That's just WAS script. They have this cake-eating fantasy of pursuing their new "swinging single" life with some handsome new OM while being able to call on their ex to fix their car, hang a picture, spend a little family time or do them some other favor all without the pressure of having sex or do anything relationship-wise. In general we say not to go there because she needs to start to realize her fantasy is just that. If she asks you if you'll always be friends and you reply "wow I don't think so, if I'm in a new relationship I will be completely focused on that." or something along those lines, it will be a cold slap in the face to her that her "plans" may not go down the way she thinks. Now I'm not saying that exes can't be friends, they absolutely can. My XW and I are on very friendly terms. But that's a bridge you'll cross years from now, for right now you want to detach and not be her BFF.