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My friend lied and changed my life

170 replies

Lovelifeinterruptus · 30/01/2021 15:00

This is long, sorry! NC as it's all a bit personal and embarrassing and could potentially be outing if anyone recognises themselves Blush

Back in the early 90s' I was in my early 20's and was madly in love with my boyfriend 'Gary'. He wasn't perfect at first, he went to ibiza with 'the lads' a few weeks after we met and admitted to some infidelity. I wasn't perfect either and had some drunken snogs in those early weeks.

Anyway. It was an amazing time as our relationship deepened that I remember fondly. We had so much fun together. We were both into trailing around museums and art galleries and had a love of history. It was a very lustful relationship, we couldn't keep our hands off each other. I'd never had feelings like that before and was absolutely head over heels.

I had a good friend. 'Hayley'. A while after I met Gary she went through a bad break up after her bf, who she was living with, cheated on her. We found her a new place to live and she started to feel better and had a couple of boyfriends on the rebound. Gary, Hayley and I often spent time together and there were lots of times when we set her up with blind dates or we went out as a foursome with one of her boyfriends.

One weekend, almost a year in to my relationship with Gary, Hayley and I planned a Saturday night in at my place and she was to stay over as usual. We always slept in the same bed when she stayed over. During the evening Gary turned up. I can't remember why. I think he had been let down by a friend. Anyway, I made it clear it was a girls night in but he stayed and joined in with our evening. Hayley and I went to bed in my bed as planned and Gary took the sofa. Sometime during the night Gary slipped into bed beside me, so I was in the middle. No funny business, we just slept. In the morning we all woke and were chatting. It didn't seem odd that we were in the same bed, we had all had odd living arrangements and it wasn't uncommon to wake up in odd situations. I went to the kitchen and could hear them chatting. Everything was fine.

A week or so later Hayley dropped the bombshell that Gary had tried it on with her while they were in the bed together after I had got up. I was devastated. I confronted him and he denied it but maybe because of the ibiza incident and because I trusted Hayley implicitly, I broke up with him. He continued to try and explain that he had done nothing wrong. I still have the big bundle of pleading letters that he sent somewhere!

It broke my heart and it was a dark time but with Hayley's support I eventually moved on. The following year I met dh and we are still together happily.

Gary and I connected via FB about 10 years ago. We're both happily married with dc and now live in different countries. Looking at his photos I didn't really feel anything. It was just nice to be in touch. We sent a couple of messages back and forth, we didn't mention our relationship or break up, it was just a brief catch up and 'nice to be in touch' type thing. We don't really communicate at all now. I will occasionally 'like' his photos of his family and vice versa.

Hayley moved abroad not long after I married dh. We kept in touch via letters and the odd phone call. She returned for a mutual friend's wedding and a couple of other times so we saw each other 3/4 times over about 20 years. Then the communication sort of fizzled out.

Very recently she sent me a friend request on FB. It was so lovely to hear from her and we sent long messages to each other over the course of a couple of days and discussed meeting up once lockdown is over as we now live in the same country. Then I mentioned Gary. I said I'd messaged him once or twice a long time ago and gave her a brief update on what he was doing. She then messaged and told me that she lied about Gary. She thought he would end up cheating on me and didn't want to see me hurt so she made it up so I would break up with him... along with a laughing emoji.

I feel like I've been punched in the stomach. It was such a long time ago but I still remember my heart breaking as Hayley told me Gary had tried it on with her in my bed, and the subsequent months of bleakness as I slowly got over him. She didn't want to see me hurt but she did the worst thing that could hurt me?

I don't know what to say to her. My gut feeling is to delete and block and forget she ever existed but I also want to let rip about the hurt she caused.

I don't know what to do about Gary. Do I mention that Hayley told me she was lying? Should I apologise for not believing him or just let it go?

And of course I've now got the 'What ifs' going through my mind. I don't know if Gary and I were destined to be together forever, but we certainly weren't anywhere near the point of breaking up when we did. It's a bit of a head fuck to be honest! It was 30 years ago but it's brought it all the heartache back! Lockdown and having fuck all to take.my kind off it isn't helping either Confused.

OP posts:
ParkheadParadise · 30/01/2021 15:42

Don't know what to say🤔
Except you have a remarkable memory 30 years ago!!
I can't remember what I did 3 days ago.

oakleaffy · 30/01/2021 15:42

@Clawdy

Have to say, that three-in-a-bed bit sounds odd to me, sorry.
I have slept three in a bed before...Two girls, one boy, when we were young..All innocent. It beats sleeping on the floor.

@Lovelifeinterruptus

You are probably having a little fantasy.. The FB friend might even be lying. She sounds horrid. Block, move on.

Mum {After dad died} contacted her ''First Love'' ...He was married, but his wife invited her up for the weekend.
{Mum in late Seventies then}
My neighbour, after her husband died, asked if id google her first boyfriend...
The sparkle in her Eighty five year old eyes revealed the 16 year old old underneath, like a cloud moving from the face of the Sun.

It is all nostalgia, 'What if's'...

Chocolateraincloud3 · 30/01/2021 15:45

I think you should tell Gary. He even wrote you pleading letters!

CantBeAssed · 30/01/2021 15:46

Im very much hate being accused in the wrong, because of this i would say "Gary" should get an apology...imagine how he felt not being believed..not apologising would be a bit cowardly imo...as for "friend" i would have nothing to do with her. What else did she lie about that you dont know of?Hmm

Toorapid · 30/01/2021 15:47

Hmm, wouldn't Gary have made a point of saying btw, it wasn't true, when you were back in touch?

I wouldn't be completely sure which version was the lie.

The best thing for you, either way, is to keep well away from both of them IMO

HDDD · 30/01/2021 15:50

I agree that you have a definite way with words - change some details and write it up as a short story
Hayley is toxic - tell her so then delete and block
Gary deserves to know that you now know the truth and you are sorry you believed her over him - making it clear it is water under the bridge and not opening yourself up to a what if.
Oof, this is a gut punch. Thank god she left the country and you have had minimal contact over the years, if she was capable of that...

Lucieintheskye · 30/01/2021 15:51

If it's any consolation, I don't think it was 'meant to be'.

No, it wasn't good of your friend to lie to you but you and your DH wouldn't have met if it weren't for her and Gary.

Lovelifeinterruptus · 30/01/2021 15:52

@ParkheadParadise

Don't know what to say🤔 Except you have a remarkable memory 30 years ago!! I can't remember what I did 3 days ago.
It's the other way around for me. I remember those days as if they were yesterday but can't remember what we had for dinner yesterday without really having to think about it.

I have photos and letters and a diary with a basic timeline as I have scribbled out a lot of fruity bits details in case dh or dc find it after I die Blush. Reading it brings it all back quite vividly. Gary and I got together in early May. Ibiza was mid June. The break up was late April the following year.

OP posts:
WorriedMillie · 30/01/2021 15:53

Let rip, delete, block. It sounds like her conscience has bitten her on the bum and she wants to seek your forgiveness so she can forgive herself for her, quite frankly cruel behaviour Flowers

CourgettiSpaghetti · 30/01/2021 15:59

I'd do the same as @worriedmillie has written.

5zeds · 30/01/2021 15:59

Tell her you think she was a prick for doing that then and prick for telling you now and that you never want to interact with her again.
Delete her, and carry on the relationship you are in. There is no need to let her poison into your or Gary’s life any further. What an unpleasant person she is. Not a friend, a blight.

PippaParsnip · 30/01/2021 16:00

Gosh I think I'd just forget this one all round! It was 30 years ago! You were all basically kids.

If this was in the past few years then , yes, I'd get it. And I'd also understand it if you were still harbouring some feelings for Gary.

However if the latter doesn't apply, just forget it

NonagonInfinityOpensTheDoor · 30/01/2021 16:03

Don’t give her the time of day. She was a shit mate then and won’t be any different now, delete and block. She wanted to get under your skin then, she’s doing the same now. Letting rip won’t make you feel any better and she could screenshot / crop and share on FB trying to spin it for sympathy. Don’t give her the satisfaction. As for Gary, you’ve all moved on there is literally no point in bringing it up, what’s done is done and it was a lifetime ago.

I’m laughing at the but if he was like that on holiday that says alot about his character poster though. Imagine judging someone on a holiday they took 30 year ago Grin

RemarkableLemur · 30/01/2021 16:06

Awful thing to do! Your so-called friend was anything but. I suspect she was jealous of your relationship with Gary, and wanted her best friend to herself.

We all make mistakes, and hopefully she'll regret hers one day and learn from it, but if I were you I'd be quite honest about the effect that her lie had on you as at the moment she doesn't come across as very self-aware, or empathetic, if she can tell you she lied and then add a laughing emoji. I think she needs to understand what a huge effect on you her lie had.

Can't decide whether you should tell Gary or not though. On the one hand it would be nice to have closure and for him to feel that at last he is believed, but on the other hand by telling him it sounds like you might be trying to rekindle the relationship. I think as long as you're very clear that you're not trying to do the latter, then you could perhaps let him know.

Covidcorvid · 30/01/2021 16:06

You know she wasn’t doing it because she thought he’d cheat on you. She was doing it because she was jealous of you being in a relationship and her being single, she wanted you for herself....for fun times, not having your attention on a guy.

SirVixofVixHall · 30/01/2021 16:07

I would tell her what a terrible thing that was to do. She must feel guilt, to have told you now.
I would also tell Gary, and apologise for not believing him at the time. Surely it would be really stupid for your boyfriend to make a pass at your friend while you have merely popped out to make a coffee ? And you would have heard her telling him to get lost or whatever ?

Wendyhause · 30/01/2021 16:07

Place marking. I need to read this fully later.

Mumoftwoinprimary · 30/01/2021 16:08

She didn’t do it because she was worried Gary would hurt you. She did it because it didn’t suit her for you to be with Gary. Whether that was because she fancied Gary herself or because she wanted the two of you to be single together I don’t know. But she lied for her benefit not yours.

Fairydustrust · 30/01/2021 16:09

I think lockdown is messing with all of our brains!! I don't understand the need to have old relationships with friends or exes renewed digitally on facebook. Just delete both of them, and live your life now. Flowers

Tal45 · 30/01/2021 16:10

She wasn't worried about you, she was just nasty. xx

VetiverAndLavender · 30/01/2021 16:11

I agree with PP that I'd tell her exactly what I thought of her before cutting her off forever. She wasn't acting as a true friend, and I wouldn't want her to think I'd forgiven her, tbh.

I don't know about telling Gary... If I wrote anything, I'd keep it brief. ("I recently got back in touch with Hayley, and she told me that she lied all those years ago. I know it's all in the long past, now, but I just wanted to apologise for not believing you back then.") Not sure I'd actually say a thing, though.

I don't think it's strange that he didn't bring it up just to deny it again. He and OP weren't discussing it, so it would have been awkward if he'd brought it up out of the blue. There was nothing to be gained, from his perspective. It's decades ago, everyone involved is now married and settled down, and he had no reason to expect her to believe him, even if he was still troubled by it.

Candiscophonous · 30/01/2021 16:13

How horrible . Never speak to Hayley again. No friend would do this.

dizzydizzydizzy · 30/01/2021 16:13

Well I wouldn’t mention it to Gary, not after all this time. Why bring up the past when it is not going to change anything? It would be different if it were a few months down the line and you might want to consider getting back together again.

As for Hayley...... she was young and made a stupid mistake. You need to take a view as to whether she she is more mature now.

WhatWouldZenoDo · 30/01/2021 16:13

Wow, there's no point telling gary that you know now he was telling the truth. Finally. He'd be like, yeh, i knew I was telling the truth. He KNEW that you chose to believe Hayley over him, and you had reasons for that. Good reasons. So if you told him and it raked up a loyalty standoff, ie, ''can't believe you chose to believe hayley'' then you'd just be back to WHY you believed her; because of what he did in Ibiza. So there's no point telling Gary.

I'm sure Hayley told you just to clear her own conscience so she can move forward now feeling good about herself. She threw a sandbag on to your deck. :-(

Just let yourself digest it. It will pass.

NeverRTFT · 30/01/2021 16:14

I will catch up and rtft after writing this...

The main thing it that you are now happily married. You really need to keep your focus on that fundamental fact. Otherwise this could become a dangerous situation.
Gary doesn't need you to tell him that Hayley lied. He already knows. So what's your intention in telling him? What's the point?
If it matters to you that you close this chapter off by telling him you now know the truth and wish him well, then ok. But tell your DH this crazy situation first, and tell him you're sending that note to Gary. Otherwise you're starting to build connections with someone from the past behind his back and you don't want it all to end up in a horrible mess.
TELL DH. it's key