?? does not mean friend.
It comes from the root of “Rah”- bad. It refers to someone who sees all your bad, which is your wife. “
V’ahavta L’RAYACHA kamocha is also spelled with a reish and ayin. It means friend. What you say is a drash (and a good one, btw). What I said is based on pshat. Spouses are supposed to be each other’s loving friend.