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Boyfriend doesn't want me sharing a bed with Bestfriend on trip

434 replies

okiedokieokayy · 26/07/2026 21:47

My best friend of around 8 years (we met at uni) has been living abroad for over two years and is finally coming back to the UK next month. I've been so excited to see her. To mark the occasion and make sure we actually get proper quality time together, we booked a little countryside retreat about 4 hours from where I live. Logistics also played a part, as she's coming from visiting family and then jetting off again, so this was the easiest way to make it work. We've had this trip planned for about four months. She made the booking and I was more than happy for her to sort it.
For context, my friend and I have shared a bed completely platonically loads of times over the years. Drunkenly crashing at uni, travelling together as broke backpackers, visiting each other in different cities. It's just never been a thing. So when she booked the room it genuinely didn't occur to me to ask about the bed situation. I'd have been fine with sharing or a twin, it just wasn't a question that entered my head.
It only came up when I was chatting to my boyfriend of nearly two and a half years about the trip. Not the first conversation we've had about it, like I said I've been excited, but this time the topic of rooms came up. He'd assumed we had separate rooms and when I said no, it's one room with a double, his whole mood changed. He said he wasn't comfortable with me sharing a bed with her. I should mention here that my friend happens to be a lesbian, and he knows this. When I asked why it was suddenly an issue, he said it "just feels different" and that he wouldn't share a bed with someone who could potentially be attracted to him, so he didn't see why I would. I tried to explain that we've shared beds plenty of times before, that she's basically family to me, and that she has never once, in eight years, shown even a hint of interest in me like that. He wasn't having it.
He then asked me to at least check if the hotel had twin rooms. I did check, to keep the peace, and there aren't any available. His response was that I need to book a separate room. It's a lot of money and honestly I'm not sure I can afford it, especially for something I don't think is necessary.
The bit that's really bothering me is that I mentioned it to my friend. I told her what he'd said and after some conversation I floated the idea that maybe I should just book the separate room. She went quiet for a second and then said "erm, yeah, okay, if that's what you think's best." There was a definite tone in her voice, like she was holding something back and trying not to cause drama. And now I feel awful. I can't work out if I'm more upset that my boyfriend doesn't seem to trust my judgement, or worried that she's hurt by the inference, because let's be honest, the implication is that because she's gay she can't be trusted to share a bed with a friend, which feels really unfair on her.
I know some people here will use the "what if she was a guy" or "would you be okay with your boyfriend sharing a bed with a straight female friend" argument, and I get why, but I'm honestly not sure it's the same thing. This is someone I've known for nearly a decade with zero history or hint of anything romantic. I don't know how I feel and I don't know what to do. Do I pay for a room I can't really afford to keep my boyfriend happy, or hold my ground and risk a row? And is it unreasonable of me to feel a bit insulted on my friend's behalf?

OP posts:
Arregaithel · 26/07/2026 23:58

Macinae · 26/07/2026 23:57

If you're straight and you share a bed with someone gay, you turn gay. Because gay people are attracted to every person they meet. Didn't you know that?

🤣

nevernotmaybe · 26/07/2026 23:59

FriendlyGreenAlien · 26/07/2026 21:51

He’s framing this as “what if she is attracted to you”. If he was giving her any agency at all, he’d be asking “are you attracted to her”? Presuming you aren’t, he doesn’t have anything to worry about. I don’t appreciate being dictated to by anyone, least of all someone who is supposed to care about me and trust me.

As long as that holds up if he shares a bed with a woman, then that's fine.

Dreamcatcherat50 · Yesterday 00:00

Say sorry to her and quickly.

Dump your boyfriend.

SleepingStandingUp · Yesterday 00:01

Anon501178 · 26/07/2026 22:22

I understand your boyfriend's perspective....both crashing in a double bed due to lack of space or something as carefree drunk teens/early 20yos is one thing, but in all other circumstances I think it's a strange thing for grown adults to do tbh, especially when there is planning and choice involved.
The fact that she booked it that way purposefully (why not twin beds??) And that she was disappointed that you rejected her idea of bedsharing seems quite telling to me, and I think that she perhaps does have feelings for you that you are unaware of.
I'm guessing she doesn't have a girlfriend or partner?

Edited

I do two "girl" weekends a year with different groups, we always half the number of room to people. some will have double beds, some twin. rooms picked based on who's in first and needs etc but we've always shared a bed for costs.

there's no evidence she specifically chose a double.

and of course she's upset, for the first time in a decade her vest friend is questioning her trust and feelings because her bf is insecure

Wingwalk · Yesterday 00:02

nevernotmaybe · 26/07/2026 23:59

As long as that holds up if he shares a bed with a woman, then that's fine.

The relevant comparison isn't him sharing with a woman, it's him sharing with a gay man.

SleepingStandingUp · Yesterday 00:02

Dreamcatcherat50 · Yesterday 00:00

Say sorry to her and quickly.

Dump your boyfriend.

this.

not necessarily dump if he's otherwise not a twonk, but Def make it clear that his behaviour isn't acceptable and your decision is made.

okiedokieokayy · Yesterday 00:07

Wingwalk · 26/07/2026 23:56

But will you say "he's being ridiculous, of course we'll share a bed as usual"? Or are you going to try to keep them both "happy"?

Yes , I will be telling her that he’s being ridiculous and I was ridiculous to let that affect how I acted

OP posts:
BauhausOfEliott · Yesterday 00:11

Personally, I’d find it a bit weird if any of my friends were offended or upset that I didn’t want to share a bed with them.

Yes, I shared beds with them out of necessity and lack of funds when we were students or whatever, but I’d rather stick pins in my eyes than share a bed with a mate now, and I wouldn’t expect them to take that personally.

I also think a lot of the people slating your boyfriend here would absolutely not be OK with it if their husband spent a weekend sharing a bed with his gay best friend.

Arregaithel · Yesterday 00:16

@BauhausOfEliott

"I also think a lot of the people slating your boyfriend here would absolutely not be OK with it if their husband spent a weekend sharing a bed with his gay best friend"

Why ever not? This is the 21st century fgs.

Gooseling · Yesterday 00:18

Wingwalk · 26/07/2026 23:53

Why not

Because @Malvasylvestris is insecure as fuck 🥴

Wingwalk · Yesterday 00:21

BauhausOfEliott · Yesterday 00:11

Personally, I’d find it a bit weird if any of my friends were offended or upset that I didn’t want to share a bed with them.

Yes, I shared beds with them out of necessity and lack of funds when we were students or whatever, but I’d rather stick pins in my eyes than share a bed with a mate now, and I wouldn’t expect them to take that personally.

I also think a lot of the people slating your boyfriend here would absolutely not be OK with it if their husband spent a weekend sharing a bed with his gay best friend.

I don't think you're in a majority here!

Your view about bed sharing is totally fair enough, some people don't like that. But it's irrelevant because OP likes sharing a bed with her bestie.

I disagree re your other point. DH has shared a bed/tent with his mates loads of times. Wouldn't care at all if he shared with a gay friend. He may well have done, I don't ask/care about exact arrangements. What do you think we'd be worried about? That our partners who have never expressed any gay interest are going to swoon at the mere proximity of another man? That their friend is going to take advantage? Both suggestions are preposterous.

CrypticClueless · Yesterday 00:21

Pistachiocake · 26/07/2026 21:55

There's no difference between a long-term, like family, friend depending if they're a man or a woman. So if he had a female friend who was like family to him, and you'd be ok with her sharing a bed with him, then it's fine, because it is the same thing.

It isn't the same thing.
As a straight male he might happen to fancy a woman he was sharing a bed with.

The OP is straight and will not be fancying her female friend.

30DegreesHighAndRising · Yesterday 00:26

Please don't pander to this, or any other nonsense from him. If he's had a lot of practice manipulating people then you may notice that he doesn't even have to argue his case. A look, his tone of voice or his silence will do it for him and those methods are harder to argue back with.

As for your friend, be honest and hope that this hasn't caused lasting damage.

SleepingStandingUp · Yesterday 00:27

BauhausOfEliott · Yesterday 00:11

Personally, I’d find it a bit weird if any of my friends were offended or upset that I didn’t want to share a bed with them.

Yes, I shared beds with them out of necessity and lack of funds when we were students or whatever, but I’d rather stick pins in my eyes than share a bed with a mate now, and I wouldn’t expect them to take that personally.

I also think a lot of the people slating your boyfriend here would absolutely not be OK with it if their husband spent a weekend sharing a bed with his gay best friend.

well my husband isn't gay and has shown no inclination to be so, so it honestly wouldn't bother me.

it's fine to not want to share, but if you've always just done so, orlf course it's upsetting when she now refuses cos her bf doesn't like it. refusing cos she wants her own bed for comfort reasons is totally different.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · Yesterday 00:30

Viviennemary · 26/07/2026 22:05

I'm team boyfriend. I was ok up to when you said your friend was gay. So not on. Sorry.

I agree, I wouldn’t let my boyfriend share a bed with a gay man

summitfever · Yesterday 00:36

And so it begins op. You let this slide he’ll have you isolated in no time

SeriouslyAreYouSure · Yesterday 00:38

I hope you are able to repair the damage. This will have done to your friendship. I think if I was your friend, it would always be something that put a bit of distance between us sadly.

A wee while ago a few of us went away and it was all about chaotic with having to change the venue we had booked and people changing their minds about coming and not coming anyway it turned out that I needed to share a room with my friends sister-in-law (her husband's sister) and she's lesbian (and I'm not) we've spent a lot of time together over the years at various occasions and staying at my friends place, I wasn't in the least bit bothered about a bed with her and if any bloke in my life had tried to tell me otherwise he would have got got short shrift!

Let alone if that had been a friend of many years that I had previously shared with happily without incident. I'd have told your boyfriend to stop being such an insecure twat if we wanted to have sex orbe in a relationship we would have done so long beforehe was on the scene.

nevernotmaybe · Yesterday 00:38

CrypticClueless · Yesterday 00:21

It isn't the same thing.
As a straight male he might happen to fancy a woman he was sharing a bed with.

The OP is straight and will not be fancying her female friend.

And if he says he doesn't, that the end of it and it should be ok. If you cant trust him saying that, the relationship shouldnt exist anyway, so if your relationship is ok you should be happy for him to sleep in the same bed with any female close friend.

SleepingStandingUp · Yesterday 00:42

Unexpectedlysinglemum · Yesterday 00:30

I agree, I wouldn’t let my boyfriend share a bed with a gay man

why?

hellywelly3 · Yesterday 00:42

It’s not the same as him staying in a bed with a female friend, it would be like him sharing with a gay friend.
Honestly get rid of him. He making what should be a fun time an awkward moment.

nevernotmaybe · Yesterday 00:50

Wingwalk · Yesterday 00:02

The relevant comparison isn't him sharing with a woman, it's him sharing with a gay man.

Not with the comment I responded to it isnt. They made it clear that the question isnt' about the other person, it is about the claim made by OP. If that is true, that is true for anyone you are sharing the bed with. If he claims he isnt attracted to the person it should be OK.

It is just the same thing either way regardless though.

He has to trust her claim that she isn't attracted to any woman ever, he can't know she is telling the truth he can only believe her. She would have to trust his claim he isnt attracted to a female friend, she can't know she can only believe him. Both have to trust a claim made, to stay in the bed of the person in question. So female friend is relevant to the comment I responded to, and in general.

Wingwalk · Yesterday 00:52

Unexpectedlysinglemum · Yesterday 00:30

I agree, I wouldn’t let my boyfriend share a bed with a gay man

Why not?

Random321 · Yesterday 00:55

He'a a controlling twat who doesn't trust you or your judgement.

He either trusts you or he doesn't.

It's sad that you've upset your friend b6 sharing his immature thoughts.

Wingwalk · Yesterday 00:55

nevernotmaybe · Yesterday 00:50

Not with the comment I responded to it isnt. They made it clear that the question isnt' about the other person, it is about the claim made by OP. If that is true, that is true for anyone you are sharing the bed with. If he claims he isnt attracted to the person it should be OK.

It is just the same thing either way regardless though.

He has to trust her claim that she isn't attracted to any woman ever, he can't know she is telling the truth he can only believe her. She would have to trust his claim he isnt attracted to a female friend, she can't know she can only believe him. Both have to trust a claim made, to stay in the bed of the person in question. So female friend is relevant to the comment I responded to, and in general.

Edited

Word salad imo. Trying to compare two different things.
OP isn't a lesbian, her boyfriend is a dick.

shuggles · Yesterday 01:16

@okiedokieokayy I know some people here will use the "what if she was a guy" or "would you be okay with your boyfriend sharing a bed with a straight female friend" argument, and I get why, but I'm honestly not sure it's the same thing.

Is it controversial to say that men and women are different from each other?

Women will hate me for saying this, but it is simply the truth that the vast majority of men are easily aroused by, and are sexually attracted to, the majority of women.

I suspect that female sexuality, and lesbian sexuality, are different though, and I suspect that a lesbian sharing a bed with a female friend is very unlikely to be thinking dirty thoughts.