Best friends moved in together after both getting divorced and are dating new people but insist they’re still each other’s “first priority”.

Marissa Baker, 32, and her best friend, Patty Kulak, 29, moved in together shortly after both splitting from their partners in 2021.

Marissa has been with her boyfriend for around a year and says everything they do is run by Patty first.

Patty — who is casually dating at the moment — tells potential dates they’d effectively be dating both her and Marissa as they “come as a package deal,” but only getting the benefit of one of them.

The duo moved in together in Naples, Florida, US, in May 2021 as it made financial sense and go on friendship dates, work out, do household chores together and “co-parent” their shared animals — three dogs, two cats, and a 150-pound tortoise.

Marissa, a local government regional manager, said: “We don’t really have that separation or those issues and fights.

“There’s never been a time where we’ve got sick of each other.

“I’ve been with my boyfriend for just over a year now and he lives in Michigan.

“Everything we plan and what we do goes through the filter of Patty.

“We have shared groups, calendars and notes to make sure no one is being put out.

“I think it’s been going really well.”

Patty, a land planner, said: “Everything is still the same, we are each other’s first priority in terms of a partner.

“Both of us are actively dating but each other comes first.

“It’s a not hidden fact and I bring it up really quickly.

“People see her as my partner and best friend.

“I tell potential partners, not only does Marissa live with me, but her opinion matters most likely more than your’s.”

The friends met on January 1, 2021, at Marissa’s birthday party and when Patty separated in January 2021, she was supported by Marissa — who separated from her husband in May 2021.

In May 2021, the singletons decided to move in together in Naples, Florida, US.

They say their situation now allows them to have a proper support system in place.

Patty said: “I think for me, having Marissa as a support system down here is important because I don’t have any family down here — so I’ve got her family too.”

Marissa added: “What we have is so good.

“We came from unhealthy relationships so we’re really good as partners in that way.

“When you have something’s that really good, you want to keep it.”

When it comes to Patty’s dating life, she tells partners that they’ll always be “cooking for three”.

She said: “I want partners to be sociable with Marissa.

“If we’re cooking, we’re making three plates.

“I always say ‘you’re dating both of us but you only get the benefit of me’.

“I went to a hockey date as well a few weeks ago and I asked Marissa to come along.

“Someone I recently dated was a friend of Marissa’s boyfriend so he gets the idea.

“It’s the same as meeting the family — knowing that Marissa can see how I interact with someone or get an idea of what he’s like.”

The women have both said they don’t have any intention to move a partner in with them and plan to live together for the foreseeable future.

Marissa said: “The best case scenario if I had my way I would be able to buy the house next door and live in the best of both worlds.

“If we’re not living together, how do we keep each other close?

“I don’t see it changing — if my relationship works out, which I feel that it will but there would be at least two years before moving out would ever be considered.”

Patty added: “I don’t think we’d ever want to move anyone else in.

“We’ve never fought and if anything we joke about how different we are — there’s a dynamic we don’t want to break.

“But I also don’t think there’s ever any fear if Marissa would want to leave to be with her partner.

“I don’t think our relationship would change in supporting each other.”

The duo — who moved in together just months after meeting — say they didn’t feel any pressure moving in so soon.

Patty said: “I’d always followed and supported Marissa as she worked with my ex-husband.

“I asked her to be my friend after my divorce and now she’s my best friend.”