Should I cut this person out of my life? If so, how? I have gotten myself in a bad situation.

I have a friend at work, let’s say her name is Daniel, who i am beginning to think is a snake and someone I don’t want to be friends with.

I have worked at a crisis line for a year, and have gotten myself involved in a “clique”. There are a group of girls, one of which being Daniel, who have a separate group text outside of work where they gossip and talk crap about others. About 3-4 months ago I got invited to this group chat and have been semi involved since. For a while there I was really burnt out at work and angry with the way things were going, and joined in a little in speaking about our supervisors negatively. I shortly stopped however and haven’t been involved really since. Now I don’t even text at all and just receive messages.

Daniel however has been texting me separately has became to be a good friend of mine. We hang out outside of work and then text. However, she doesn’t seem to be trusted. For example, she talks crap about most the girls in the text and acts like she doesn’t like them. But she hangs out with them! One girl in particular, let’s name HER Ann, she talks about all the time, yet has weekly game night with. Back a few months ago I joined in with her in talking about some people but again, stopped. Now with a new year and being a new mom I want to be away from all of it. It’s so trivial and it’s not important. I’m also aware Daniel is not probably even my real friend.

But I don’t know what to do. I’ve talked bad about people with this group before, although it’s been months and months. If I just cut off contact or distance myself, I’m afraid they will try to start trouble. Especially Daniel. I don’t want her causing more problems for me than necessary. But again, I just don’t want to be involved and deal with them. It’s just hard because Daniel acts so nice to me and acts like we are friends, but hangs out with these other women. I can’t stand it anymore.

Help.