Good for you Marissa! Sometimes I think we sell our best friends short, but not intentionally. Fear is a powerful thing and can override our knowledge that we are going to be okay. But that is a great and heartwarming story. I would handle him seeing Marissa just like we advise for SOs. Let him bring it up and say he wants to. He may be okay with hearing it, but let him come to his point where he is ready to see it.
Oh, and don't be such a stranger!(That's not a bro hug :-) )
