back burner relationship 

friends that you are attracted to, that you flirt with and stay close to, so if in the future you're interested in hooking up there's the option to. this is very common while dating someone, and are usually the "just friends" that people cheat with.

Lynn: he's in florida though, so he'll just be a back burner relationship, cause my attention is focused on Will.
Alicia: yea, so then when Will turns out to be an asshole you'll have someone to fall back on.
Lynn: or just hook up with.

back burner relationship by sotrue October 19, 2005