I say make the detour and go to San Antonio to see your friend. Always take the friend detour.
One of the bad things about TX is it is damn big it takes forever to get anywhere. When I go to Colorado it takes me about 7 or 8 hours just to get out of the state and that always annoys me, I never feel like Im on vacation til Im out of the state, ykwim.

I really dig San Antonio, the Riverwalk has about as good people watching potential as you will ever get.