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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:
Strongerthanilook · 30/01/2021 21:29

This reply has been deleted

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HeelsHandbagPerfumeCoffee · 30/01/2021 21:31

@RootyT00t thanks how intriguing, so what was the Gary story? He went by an assumed name?

Viviennemary · 30/01/2021 21:33

She was either lying then or is lying now. Have nothing more to do with this troublemaker.

RootyT00t · 30/01/2021 21:34

[quote HeelsHandbagPerfumeCoffee]@RootyT00t thanks how intriguing, so what was the Gary story? He went by an assumed name?[/quote]
She got his name wrong adnso did her family and friends for over ten years and he never said

HeelsHandbagPerfumeCoffee · 30/01/2021 21:35

🌟thanks @RootyT00t

Ilovelove · 30/01/2021 21:36

I think your few nice messages with Gary are where you should stop. I think going back and saying anything opens feelings up and lines of communication that don’t need opening.

Defriend Hayley.

Live in your present life. There is/was no alternative. Do not ruminate on pointless what ifs. They will suck the joy out of all the wonderful things you have - you husband and children.

dingoesatemybaby · 30/01/2021 21:38

Sounds like she was jealous of your relationship and wanted you to herself. Not that she fancied you or anything but friendships can be intense at that age and she probably thought Gary was 'taking you away'. I've seen it happen before with friends/boyfriends.

Sorry you found this out, what an awful thing to do.

Shaniac · 30/01/2021 21:42

Going against the grain here i would let it go. It happened in the 90s, nearly 30 years ago. It worked out for the best as you all are happily married to other people with kids. Literally no good can come from bringing it back up now just to be bitter and pissed off and bring up bad feelings with yourself, gary and hayley.

PeanutButtaCups · 30/01/2021 21:55

I would just wait for the pictures and then block her out of your life, then send a quick message to Gary just like the one you drafted before

nuitdesetoiles · 30/01/2021 22:05

@dingoesatemybaby I completely agree with this description of the situation.

I have a female friend who gets jealous... We can have a laugh about it now but she used to be very territorial and sometimes quite difficult when I introduced her to other friends. Her and another equally feisty friend had a huge dramatic argument once, glasses smashing and everything!

This sounds more weird though... She clearly has an unhealthy fixation with the op.

LizFlowers · 30/01/2021 22:12

@Okbutnotgreat

She was never your friend, block her and leave her well and truly in the past.
That.

She was in a bad place and wanted you to be the same at that time. It was grossly unfair of her.

IdblowJonSnow · 30/01/2021 22:16

What a nasty malicious thing to do in the first place, and then doubly so to stir it up again later. I'd post her post on her FB page so all her friends can see what a delight she is.

  • I probably wouldn't really but I'd want to.
I'm not sure I'd I'd say anything to him though.
Lovelifeinterruptus · 31/01/2021 09:54

Hayley sent through some photos and started another conversation last night, as if the previous one containing the explosive revelation never happened. I've thanked her for the photos but haven't engaged further.

I had a quick scroll through our previous messages and it's made me really sad. The planned meet ups won't happen now. Yesterday I wish she hadn't told me but today I'm glad she did. I don't want her near my family. Dh knows I've been chatting with her and was happy for us. I'm going to tell him why it's come to an abrupt end as he'll be confused otherwise.

OP posts:
Alonelonelyloner · 31/01/2021 09:58

Unthinkable you need to tell her how abysmally she has treated you. Then block her.
Don't let her conscience get away with it.
She has behaved appallingly, told you to get it off her chest and moved on. Shit woman

samanthawashington · 31/01/2021 10:05

I don't think the 3 in a bed is weird, I remember being 4 in a bed and the couple having sex next to me 😳.

Yes, tell the friend it was a despicable thing to do and how much it hurt you, then block. Apologise to Gary for not believing him, as he deserves that, but don't keep on with the what if's. You are happy now and that's the main thing.

RootyT00t · 31/01/2021 22:27

@Lovelifeinterruptus

Hayley sent through some photos and started another conversation last night, as if the previous one containing the explosive revelation never happened. I've thanked her for the photos but haven't engaged further.

I had a quick scroll through our previous messages and it's made me really sad. The planned meet ups won't happen now. Yesterday I wish she hadn't told me but today I'm glad she did. I don't want her near my family. Dh knows I've been chatting with her and was happy for us. I'm going to tell him why it's come to an abrupt end as he'll be confused otherwise.

You seem to be making excuses to tell DH. Why?
LizFlowers · 31/01/2021 22:28

@samanthawashington

I don't think the 3 in a bed is weird, I remember being 4 in a bed and the couple having sex next to me 😳.

Yes, tell the friend it was a despicable thing to do and how much it hurt you, then block. Apologise to Gary for not believing him, as he deserves that, but don't keep on with the what if's. You are happy now and that's the main thing.

That. Very sensible.
Tigertigertigertiger · 31/01/2021 22:33

I can see why that is so shocking and hurtful.

You’ll feel crap for a couple of days , but try to let it go.

It’s ancient history.

Defenbaker · 01/02/2021 02:17

@Viviennemary

She was either lying then or is lying now. Have nothing more to do with this troublemaker.
I agree, she's trouble, don't bother with this "friend".

All ancient history now, best leave it that way or you risk spoiling your current life over "what if". Anyway, maybe Gary hasn't been entirely honest with you... he seems to have taken quite a different path in life, if this video is anything to go by... Wink

BigPaperBag · 01/02/2021 02:28

I’d just leave it, what good is it going to do? Just focus on what you’ve got now and never allow that weirdo woman back into your life again.

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