The Barron Theory

The Barron Theory is when a guy secretly has a crush on his best friend, but hides it behind jokes, teasing, or “bro” behavior. Once you notice it, you can’t unsee it — every small gesture suddenly makes sense.

“Jake’s obsession with his best friend is a classic case of the Barron Theory.”
or
“Once you notice the Barron Theory between those two, you can’t unsee it.”