You be the judge: should my boyfriend hold my hand in public?

Chantelle says she and her boyfriend Hugo have been together five years but he has never been keen on holding hands, which she finds reassuring and would like more of. She grew up in a touchy family and still holds her mother’s hand when they’re out; Hugo, who went to boarding school, prefers to keep his hands free for gesturing and dislikes public displays of affection.

Hand-holding remains rare: sometimes he will take her hand for a bit or on special occasions like an anniversary or Valentine’s Day, and once he held her hand during a stressful day after they moved house. Friends and family joke about the scarcity — on one occasion they even photographed the moment — and Hugo sometimes uses practical excuses, like needing both hands to pick something up or avoiding a lamp-post, as reasons to let go.

Hugo says he finds holding hands annoying, sweaty and awkward, and prefers to show care in other ways, such as opening doors, sorting bills, walking on the outside of the pavement and telling Chantelle he loves her daily.

holding hands, public affection, pda, boyfriend, relationship advice, chantelle, hugo, boarding school, boundaries, valentine's day