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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:
Lovelifeinterruptus · 30/01/2021 16:49

One thing I haven't mentioned is that when Hayley moved away I made her a big scrapbook with lots of photos of us and our friends (inc Gary!) inside, and she said she still has it and will message me some photos of it. I really want to see those photos as I they are the only copies and I'd love to see them. I need to wait for her to send the photos before I either let rip or block her - still undecided on that one.

Not sure about telling dh. He will probably find it all quite confusing! I nearly told dd this morning as she's having her own share of bf issues at the moment and I thought it might cheer her up ... but who wants to know about their menopausal mums sordid past eh? 🙂

OP posts:
IceDiscoSkater · 30/01/2021 16:51

@alltheadrenalin

This reads a like a 90s British movie
Felt like I was back reading my Just Seventeen magazine there
Oblomov20 · 30/01/2021 16:52

Goodness, this would totally change how I felt about her. The trust is gone. Are you going to mention it to her! Ask her how she thinks this makes you feel?

diddl · 30/01/2021 16:52

Tell your husband, tell your daughter??

Why?

SunshineCake · 30/01/2021 16:52

That was a real ouch moment.

He might not have cheated. How dare she. You both had grown up and stopped the drunken snogs etc.

I couldn't forgive.

I had years, decades of what ifs. Broke up with someone who was extremely important to me. Friends influenced. I recently discovered that one of those friends was connected to him. I immediately stopped any communication. Left it over a year. Have exchanged a few messages and a card. No. It's done for me.

Myoldtable · 30/01/2021 16:53

@SummerBlondey

"You fucking bitch. You lied to my face, ruined my relationship and broke my heart, and watched on as it all unfolded. I cannot fathom how you could do something so cruel, and now message me about it with a laughing emoji, as if my heartbreak back then was just a laugh for you. Never ever contact me again you psycho"
Totally agree with this
IceDiscoSkater · 30/01/2021 16:53

@diddl

Tell your husband, tell your daughter??

Why?

Yup Don’t tell them It’s years ago You are both happily married

If it was me , I’d block her and just forget , no good ever comes from bringing up the past.

Lovemusic33 · 30/01/2021 16:54

I shared a bed a couple times with my best mate and her boyfriend at the time, I was 17/18, one morning I woke up with him hugging me, not in a sexual way, he had just mistaken me for my friend 🤣🤣, I don’t think it’s a odd thing to do as such, only did it a couple times but usually after we had been clubbing and were pissed.

OP, your friend shouldn’t have lied to you but I can’t help feeling that she may have saved you from a cheat, you were all young and immature, he had already cheated on you yet you stayed with him. Your friend may have been a bit jealous and felt pushed out? No excuse I know but I don’t think it’s worth holding a grudge.

nuitdesetoiles · 30/01/2021 16:54

Agree she sounds sociopathic. She obviously gets a kick out of playing with other people's emotions. Don't let her in to any more detail of your life op. I do think tell Gary to protect him but then maybe agree, kindly, to no further contact between you and him. Minimises the opportunity for her to stir up more shit. Make your friends list on FB hidden so not even your other friends can see it and change your FB name to a nickname if it isn't already. I don't mean to sound alarming just seems that she enjoys drama and manipulation and you need to make her as invisible as possible. I wouldn't even have a rant at her.. Just block her and cease contact. And keep an eye out for unusual friend requests and messages

SunshineCake · 30/01/2021 16:54

I would tell Gary. The same ex and I ad a conversation about something neither of us knew was a misunderstanding. It meant a huge amount to both of us to straighten it out.

VistaOfFreedom · 30/01/2021 16:55

@SummerBlondey

"You fucking bitch. You lied to my face, ruined my relationship and broke my heart, and watched on as it all unfolded. I cannot fathom how you could do something so cruel, and now message me about it with a laughing emoji, as if my heartbreak back then was just a laugh for you. Never ever contact me again you psycho"
Do this. What a bitch Shock and a ridiculous reason to give to do it too. Reckon she was jealous you had a big and she didn’t
VistaOfFreedom · 30/01/2021 16:55

Bf*

Afishcalledwonderful · 30/01/2021 16:58

I can totally see why you would be upset, I would be too. Try and re-prioritise your thoughts though - DH first. Think how you would feel if DH messaged an ex apologising for something that happened 30 years ago - you would probably question his motives (not that I'm questioning yours) but you see what I mean? As for Hayley, I think she is a 'friend' that needs to be left where she belongs; in the past. Getting involved with her will unearth all sorts of nostalgic feelings that just aren't real today. I dumped my first bf back in 1987 for something he didn't do and I still think about it from time to time - don't know why. Maybe a psychologist should analyse that one!

CorianderBee · 30/01/2021 16:58

I'd tell her that it really hurt you and then block her.

I'd tell Gary she'd admitted to lying and apologise and express your regrets over the situation. It will be cathartic for you both I think.

Washingmyself · 30/01/2021 17:01

She was horrible bitch!
She displayed not made it up as she was worried that he would cheat on you later on.
She made it up because she was JEALOUS of you having a lovely relationship with him and she had not had a proper long term boyfriend.
I had a friend like that too.
Also in the 90s, also I was in early 20s.
I had a new boyfriend.
We out all 3 of us into pub and when I went to the toilet, she stayed chatting to him.
I though nothing of it..
Later that evening he told me why I’m with her being friend?
He said when I was in the toilet she kept telling me leave me, that I am horrible, telling him if he had seen my face in the morning( I used to wear makeup as had atopic eczema on my face)
I was horrified..

It was not bad ( my face) at all but as I was being very young obviously I was self conscious about any spot on my skin so it was pretty hurtful from her.
So yes I believe your friend was similarly just jealous of you.

Nishky · 30/01/2021 17:01

I could have written part of that- but my boyfriend split up with me out of the blue, my friend watch me sobbing and completely bewildered

Years later she told me ha had tried it on with her and she told him to tell me or she would.

Slightly freaked out when I started to read it!

But I agree- block her!

HeelsHandbagPerfumeCoffee · 30/01/2021 17:08

Leave it be,it’s a 30 year old drama, she was nasty & manipulative
Currently,both you and Gary are married and settled
Consign this to history,she’s a bad un and forget it

Housing101 · 30/01/2021 17:11

Yes I'd let him know it was admitted as a lie and apologise for not believing him.
Horrible to be accused of something you didn't do. Nice to have that acknowledged how ever long it's been.

RootyT00t · 30/01/2021 17:19

Oh I think I would tell her exactly what I thought of her, block her, never speak to her again.

I think I would tell him she lied, personally. You would have to curtail the conversation and make sure it doesn't derail but the man has had to live with this.

WarmKitty · 30/01/2021 17:20

She’s a troublemaker. Don’t give her the satisfaction of letting her know how this has made you feel. Compose a polite reply shrugging it off ‘oh no worries it was years ago. Am really happily married etc..’ Reply very briefly to shy further messages and discourage any further friendship.

I wouldn’t mention to Gary that I knew the truth. I think these things are best left in the past.

I think she sounds like an absolute snake and a very envious person.

Don’t think too much more about the past. The present is what matters.

HeelsHandbagPerfumeCoffee · 30/01/2021 17:23

It’s only really on mn that people recommend such fierce feisty scripted responses
In RL you’d think what a rotter and move on,you’d not need a whole stage directed say this soliloquy

MustardMitt · 30/01/2021 17:24

@Clawdy

Have to say, that three-in-a-bed bit sounds odd to me, sorry.
What a dull life if that sounds odd!

I think I would give her a dressing down before deleting and blocking. I think I’d want to say but wouldn’t say anything to Gary though, as you say it’s opened up those ‘what if’ thoughts and I’m not sure I’d want to compound that with him thinking the same.

EvenMoreFuriousVexation · 30/01/2021 17:27

Fucking hell! That's appalling.

I'd have to message her back. Along the lines of
"Fuck me, you are a stone cold psychopathic shitcunt. I hope you fall face first into a pile of shit left by a dog with diarrhea and the smell of it follows you around for the rest of your life, as a warning to other people around you."

I personally wouldn't want the photos off her as they'd be a source of anger. But if you do, just wait til they arrive, then drop the bomb.

Not sure about telling Gary. I think maybe I'd discuss with my husband and see if he'd feel okay with it. I would want to tell Gary and apologise, but I know what you mean about raising "what if" questions - which as a spouse I might feel a bit uneasy with.

WhataMissMap · 30/01/2021 17:30

Heelshandbag has it spot on, in my opinion.

I would have no contact at all with her ever again. None.
She will no doubt use the photos to gain leverage over you. Until recently you had forgotten all about them. Resign yourself to never seeing them.
There is a good chance she will drip feed them to you and draw you into her web once again.
Thats if she still does still have them.

Concentrate on the here and now. You could always have a laugh about it with your daughter, if you have that sort of relationship.
I do with mine. She loves hearing about mum’s Mills and Boon relationships in the good old days! My mum tells us about hers too. All dashing WW2 pilots, and jitterbugging with the Yanks! It does the young good to realise that we were all young once too.

Good luck

CityCommuter · 30/01/2021 17:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.