Dear Swanky:

Avoiding her plus expressing distance from her is likely to cause her, over time, to no longer offer the side-hugs and friendly behavior toward you, over time, if you persist. Problem is that you may not persist because ..let’s say she is very friendly one day, it crosses your mind that she is being flirtatious and interested after all, and you feel vulnerable again. Maybe having an honest, direct conversation with her (not on email, so that there is no record of it) is better… ?

anita