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Didn't tell friend that I have slept with new man

64 replies

Freinddilemma · 12/07/2026 23:41

So 3 years ago, I had a random 4 months where I was sleeping with a male friend of mine, lets call him Tom. Nothing serious, we had been friends for years and years, and then we just randomly hooked up one night and had like a 4 month "fling". It ended as suddenly as it started and we went straight back to being just friends with zero flirtation or anything.

Anyway, I have a very close female friend, let's call her Emma. She is absolutely bloody lovely and was dumped by a total prick she was seeing. It suddenly occured to me that there was a very similar kind of feel that Tom and Emma share, and that they would really get on. So I introduced them.

I dont know what the fuck i was thinking but I somehow never got around to telling Emma about how I had this thing with Tom. She knew we hung out and were frjebds and stuff of course, but back in the day i never mentioned we had slept together as it was so casual, and i didnt mention it before hooking them up either. I guess because I wanted her to feel like if they did hit it off, he would be just hers to know if you see what i mean. I don't know, initially I just wanted her to feel like she was meeting a great man and it felt somehow sordid. Like "heres a guy I used to shag, why dont you have a go".

Rightly or wrongly I failed to twll her, it has been 6 months they have been dating and I feel like its now past the point of no return as she is massively falling for him and I have missed the boat on telling her. He hasn't told her, I'm sure of that - she would have said somrthing to me.

Have I massively fucked up here?

OP posts:
Peachykeenjosephine · 14/07/2026 06:37

Agree with others, it won't sound great if you bring it up now, at a point where the two of them are doing so well together. You sound absolutely lovely, but it might give the impression you're a bit jealous and want to cause trouble (I know that's not the case)
To me, it's actually better that you hadn't said anything if she did ever find out, as it suggests you didn't think it was that important! If she does find out I wouldn't lie, I'd just explain it as you have done here. I think if you make out you thought you'd told her she will know that's not true

Stillso · 14/07/2026 06:14

Freinddilemma · 14/07/2026 06:10

No there was no conversation. It was quite baffling really. We had been friends for 12 years with absolutely zero flirting. Then there was this one summer where we were both single at the same time and I cant even remember how it started but we just slept together. Then a few months later he met someone new and we both went straight back into friend mode like nothing ever happened. When we were having sex there wasnt anything romantic or sensual about it. It was quite kinky sex actually 😂

It sounds like they are serious about one another.
He will likely have mentioned it to her over some drinks, they’d had a chuckle about it, and then moved on. Because it didn’t mean anything to him, your friend isn’t bothered and so hasn’t mentioned it to you.

So I’d just leave it

Freinddilemma · 14/07/2026 06:10

shockmethen · 13/07/2026 21:43

Completely being nosy here just out of pure interest, How did you end up suddenly not sleeping with him? Did something actually happen? Did you have a conversation? Or did you just suddenly stop having sex?

No there was no conversation. It was quite baffling really. We had been friends for 12 years with absolutely zero flirting. Then there was this one summer where we were both single at the same time and I cant even remember how it started but we just slept together. Then a few months later he met someone new and we both went straight back into friend mode like nothing ever happened. When we were having sex there wasnt anything romantic or sensual about it. It was quite kinky sex actually 😂

OP posts:
Tuesdayschild50 · 13/07/2026 21:43

TrishM80 · 13/07/2026 01:56

Why on earth would he ever want to bring that up?!

"Oh by the way, I used to shag your best friend"!

Exactly fkn shit advice or what.

shockmethen · 13/07/2026 21:43

Completely being nosy here just out of pure interest, How did you end up suddenly not sleeping with him? Did something actually happen? Did you have a conversation? Or did you just suddenly stop having sex?

Tuesdayschild50 · 13/07/2026 21:42

Krevlornswath · 13/07/2026 01:26

I wonder why he didn't tell her, you'd think it might have come up quite early on from him if nothing else, given the context.

I think I'd still push to tell her just so she knows, even if the conversation might be a little awkward I'd probably explain that it was such a non-event that initially it didn't seem necessary and you didn't want to make more of it than it actually was when you were so excited to set them up.

You're all adults, I think in the context that you very casually were seeing him for a short time, it came to nothing and then you went out of your way to introduce them, I really can't see how a person would be annoyed by that part of it, we aren't obliged to every detail of a new partners life from the off and it sounds fairly new. It's not as though you knew anything would actually have come from introducing two people either.

I'd pull the plaster off and get it done but I'm sure there'll be people come along to say they'd leave it. I think I'd just not want him to find out from her, and would assume it will come out at some point as these things inevitably do.

Not if both friends see it as nothing and it was a short fling.. why tell her something that just doesn't matter anymore silly advice.

Tuesdayschild50 · 13/07/2026 21:40

No I dont tnink she needs to know ... why would she now.
If you had spoken as friends about it in the past then fine that way but I dont see the point in either of you bringing it up unless you want to chance spoiling your friendships they might not feel as easy going you will cause unease .

Stillso · 13/07/2026 18:09

Perhaps he has already told her and because she knows it was not serious and meant nothing long term to him… she’s not bothered enough to mention it to you

Krevlornswath · 13/07/2026 16:20

TrishM80 · 13/07/2026 01:56

Why on earth would he ever want to bring that up?!

"Oh by the way, I used to shag your best friend"!

Because they all know each other and she was the one to set them up so it's hardly outside of the realm of belief that he might at some point mention that they used to date? Not sure it requires it to be posed as dramatically as possible for effect, rather than just casually mentioned so that she knows and doesn't feel foolish when she eventually finds out.

It's not like it actually meant anything so why would it need to be proactively kept a secret by all parties. As I mentioned, people will view it differently and presumably would deal with it differently in real life as a result. If I started dating someone in that context I'd have mentioned it. Anyone with an ounce of maturity would just understand it for what it was and move on.

Werhere · 13/07/2026 10:11

Freinddilemma · 13/07/2026 09:49

No. Sorry to dedramatise what could have been a nice mid-morning hate-reading session for you

Why are you not thinking he’s told her
and because it’s of little interest to her - she’s not mentioned

I’d be the same in her shoes

Ohnobackagain · 13/07/2026 10:01

Tough one @Freinddilemma both you and Tom might have thought it was the other person’s ‘secret’ to tell and then both left it and now it is almost too late. He won’t tell her because it would put you in an awkward position and you don’t because - it’s been so long it would be more unsettling for your friend. Yes, in hindsight, you should have told her, but, you can’t turn back the clock. I don’t know what to suggest - it might help to write down ‘what you would say if you were to explain why you didn’t say/why you left it’ but I still think keeping quiet might be the right thing now it has been so long … “arrgh” completely get how you feel though!

Freinddilemma · 13/07/2026 09:49

SleepingStandingUp · 13/07/2026 09:02

regardless of should have, would have, you didn't. just block it and move on.

are you a little bit jealous you got a 4 month fling and she might be getting true love?

No. Sorry to dedramatise what could have been a nice mid-morning hate-reading session for you

OP posts:
ClairDeLaLune · 13/07/2026 09:31

Is anyone else likely to tell her?

If not, I wouldn’t.

Werhere · 13/07/2026 09:16

He might have told her
and it’s no big deal for her so not mentioned

JingsMahBucket · 13/07/2026 09:15

SleepingStandingUp · 13/07/2026 09:02

regardless of should have, would have, you didn't. just block it and move on.

are you a little bit jealous you got a 4 month fling and she might be getting true love?

This is so needlessly catty.

StrawberryMatchaLatte · 13/07/2026 09:04

I'd tell her if she was a close friend I really cared about. A casual friend I rarely saw, I wouldn't bother. These kinds of things always come out eventually. If they're together years he'll probably tell her and she won't view you kindly.

SleepingStandingUp · 13/07/2026 09:02

Freinddilemma · 13/07/2026 07:24

Thanks for your replies. I agree I have messed up the timing here and its difficult to come back on. And i dont even want to ask Tom about it as then its like creating drama.
It was so stupid not to mention it but I thought i was doing the right thing at the time.

regardless of should have, would have, you didn't. just block it and move on.

are you a little bit jealous you got a 4 month fling and she might be getting true love?

LeedsLoiner · 13/07/2026 09:01

Don't say anything until you get to the Matron of Honour speech then drop it...😀

BettyJoanPerske · 13/07/2026 08:57

You didn't do anything wrong at all. It's not as if you are still harbouring feelings for Tom. I would just say nothing at all. It's not relevant to anything.

gannett · 13/07/2026 08:54

Yeah I wouldn't say "I thought I'd told you" because that's a lie and she'll probably realise that. And being dishonest will make her think you're hiding things.

Say nothing for now and if she finds out just tell the truth. You didn't tell her because there wasn't a natural time to do so and it wasn't a big deal because it was so brief and so long ago. That's all you need.

CaptainMyCaptain · 13/07/2026 08:53

You don't have to tell your friends who you've slept with.

ruffler45 · 13/07/2026 08:50

Old saying - It is aint broke dont fix it...

Why rock her boat?

ohdear2 · 13/07/2026 08:49

Freinddilemma · 13/07/2026 08:04

That's a good idea. I could tell her I thought id told her way back when. Which is dishonest but the kindest solution

don't ever pretend you told her and she's forgotten - someone wouldn't forget something like that and implying it would mean you are more than happy to put your need to settle your own feelings of discomfort over her feelings.

just leave it now and if it comes up be prepared with what you are going to say. In reality its only likely to come up if he tells her in anger one day.

GrandHighPoohbah · 13/07/2026 08:29

I agree with PP about mentioning it now specifically might look like causing unnecessary drama. See how their relationship pans out. It may be the sort of thing that comes up over dinner and drinks in ten years' time, when you're all settled and secure in your own relationships.

Freinddilemma · 13/07/2026 08:21

HatStickBoots · 13/07/2026 08:17

I don’t see the point. Your relationship with him was completely different, you are still friends and it happened to be a bit more than that briefly for the pair of you. You introduced them to each other in a completely different manner because you like them both and feel they’d be a good match. At least you know what he is like and you should feel pleased that two people you have such friendship for like each other too. You’re entitled to a private life and from your post you sound genuine, not someone who still fancies him or wishes there’d been more and is resentful of her friend and wishes to upset the apple cart and cause drama.

Thank you, ive decided im never going to mention it to either of them and if she does find out one day I will tell a white lie and say I thought id told her about it when it was going on back in the day

OP posts: