My partner and I are pretty COVID cautious and we don't go to restaurants. Instead, we meet friends outside. We even got an outdoor heater to make that more comfortable. But one of my partner's friends is pushing back on that and I feel... awkward.

If it weren't for my health risks, my partner would not likely be as cautious as he is. In the past when meeting this friend, I've bought them beer and pizza to make meeting up outdoors more fun and cheaper than a restaurant.

I've also paid for his friend to Uber to a place that would be more convenient for hanging out outside (my building has an outdoor patio that's great in the summer to meet folks socially distanced). I don't want my medical needs to come btw my partner and his friend.

When they recently went to make plans, my partner suggested an outdoor hang and that he would pay for the beer and food... and his friend was like well it will be early and X restaurant won't be busy so let's go there instead.

He knows we are COVID cautious because of my health issues but yet was trying to get around our very clear boundaries around that. I don't want my partner to fight with his friend but I don't really know how to communicate or support this better.

The whole thing makes me feel terrible because I feel like I'm causing a conflict between my partner and his friend and keeping them from seeing each other. Any thoughts for what to do that's worked for you?