All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
What you said to your friend is not a clear statement of divorce and you did not intend divorce by saying it, therefore, divorce did not take place and there is no need for you to take your wife back in the bond of marriage [as she is still your wife].
It should be noted that it is very serious to let oneself go along with the whispers; so you should avoid them and you should avoid joking in matters of divorce because if divorce is said in jest it becomes effective in the same way as if it is said seriously. Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said: “There are three things which, whether undertaken seriously or in jest, are treated as serious: marriage, divorce and taking back a wife (to marital bond) after divorce (which is not irrevocable).” [Abu Daawood, At-Tirmithi and Ibn Maajah]
Also, it should be noted that if a husband has sexual intercourse with his wife (before consummating the marriage), then this is considered as having consummated the marriage with her; this makes her entitled to her dowry and she has to observe her waiting period and so forth. Even if the husband stayed in valid seclusion (i.e. the doors were locked and the like) with his wife without having sexual intercourse with her, then this seclusion takes the same ruling as having consummated the marriage with her as we clarified in Fatwa 86187.
Allaah Knows best.