If you're asking for advice I'd say just tell them. It may be awkward AF, but if you're gaining time where they're your friend by not telling them, they aren't really your friend. One way or another, you'll know whether they're cool with it - in which case you get to stop being anxious about it, or you'll know they aren't - and you get to move on.
Regardless, anything you gain by not talking about stuff, isn't really worth it, imo.