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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be unsure how to feel?

14 replies

NC246 · 11/12/2019 22:19

NC, obviously! (Hopefully not still outing so will try to be brief)

Me and my long term fiance recently split up after going through an extended rough patch, he ended it but I felt things had been getting better between us, was sure it wasn’t actually over, and that it wasn’t what he really wanted.

This separation lasted several weeks and we have young DC so did speak during this time. We then began to grow closer and have been back together for a few months. Due to the way this all happened, I never really felt as though we truly were no longer a couple.

He told me a couple of weeks ago, completely of his own volition but during a conversation about a colleague of his that he knows has recently been unfaithful to his wife, that a couple of days after we split he was in the pub, he says to try and take his mind off how upset he was, and a friend of a friend arrived at the bar with some female friends and announced that he was there to ‘wingman’ my fiance. He says he didn’t necessarily go along with this but was quite passive and didn’t say no either, and was incredibly drunk.

He then describes the situation as progressing very quickly, they all went back for drinks at one girl’s flat and one of them made their interest in him clear. He says he wasn’t interested and so went to bed there as he was so drunk and it was very early hours of the morning. At some point she came into the bedroom and was attempting to pressure him into having sex, he told her he didn’t want to but says he did end up kissing her and briefly began performing a sex act on her before realising he was making a mistake and leaving.

He says he feels he did it due to the pressure from her but hasn’t attempted to place the blame on her at all, he knows it was completely his responsibility even in the state he was. He says he was always going to tell me and wishes he had sooner, it just got harder as we became happy again because he didn’t want to ruin that, as though he doesn’t feel he cheated, he thinks it’s a grey area, does feel terrible about it (cried as he told me) and about how it might hurt me, and feels it was a shit thing for him to do that he isn’t sure he’d be able to look past it if the situation was reversed.

So, am I wrong for not knowing how I feel about it? I wasn’t as upset as I thought I maybe should be, and whilst I’m angry with him and think he was very stupid, I’m just not sure if I consider it a betrayal in the way I would if he’d had sex with someone before we split. I can’t figure out if this was affected my trust in him or not.

OP posts:
NC246 · 11/12/2019 22:44

Hate to bump so soon, but could do with some other perspectives. Sat stewing!

OP posts:
BigBairyHollocks · 11/12/2019 22:50

I’ll bump for you.If it was me I wouldn’t be overly bothered, you were on a break, and no I am not trying to be funny, just don’t know how else to put it!

Ohyesiam · 11/12/2019 22:56

I can see why you’re not that bothered. It’s not like their eyes met actors a crowded room and he couldn’t resist.
Also if a man was trying to pressure you into having sex when you were very drunk you’d probably think quite differently of it. I realise it’s not a level playing field because men are generally not vulnerable sexually in the way women are, but with thinking about.

Pumpkinandpeas · 11/12/2019 22:59

I wouldn't be bothered. He's owned up, you were on a break and he's remorseful.

NC246 · 11/12/2019 23:00

Thank you!

That’s sort of what my initial thought was too, but then it happened very quickly afterwards and I don’t feel like we were ever really over and he meant what he was saying, though I suppose that could just be on my end.

I also know he can’t help how he feels and what his deal breakers are, but the double standard rankles me a bit I think. He would like for me to move past it but doesn’t think he could.

OP posts:
NC246 · 11/12/2019 23:04

Thanks, @Ohyesiam @Pumpkinandpeas

I’m glad to see that I’m not crazy for leaning towards not feeling terribly betrayed. I wasn’t sure if that was me spectacularly under-reacting.

You make a good point about him being a woman in that situation, ohyesiam, absolutely worth me thinking of it from that angle too. I also know that I’m very glad he didn’t have full sex with her so in a way, appreciate that he had the werewithal to get up and leave when he realised he felt truly uncomfortable with what he was doing.

OP posts:
MommaJP · 11/12/2019 23:08

The best advise I can say is your the one living your life. If you feel you can move forward and not throw it in his face in an argument and you generally trust him j would say it is a moment of weakness.

colourbynumbers · 11/12/2019 23:26

Regardless of whether you believed it was what he wanted, he ended the relationship, it was over.

Whatever happened between that and you two getting back together is irrelevant.

Elieza · 11/12/2019 23:34

It’s the old Ross from Friends “we were on a break”! Routine! ie is it ok to be with someone else while split temporarily from an ex?

I say yes. You were split. It would have been ok if you kissed someone too.

LolaDabestest · 11/12/2019 23:40

Well he's admitted it...but I call bullshit on the actual situation I.e her jumping him. The thing is if you can live with it fair enough but if it's going to eat away at you, then not great me personally due to the fact he's long term kids etc wouldn't get over it but everyone's different.

countdowntochristmas · 12/12/2019 07:30

He may be remorseful but it may not be the complete truth . They kissed he said he didn't want to but then went on to perform a sex act . Saying that you had split and up he was probably confused , but you have every right to be annoyed and hurt . I hope you sort it out but maybe he needs to be honest what he wants.

NC246 · 12/12/2019 12:53

Thanks everyone for your perspectives.

In regards to this perhaps not being the full story, I do believe it is. I’m sure everyone says it, but he’s not really the type for half truths, he’s chosen to tell me and so he wouldn’t downplay it or leave anything out. He also is unfortunately the type to find not bowing to pressure from others difficult (has had to distance himself from friend groups in the past due to struggling with peer pressure from them), and so it rings true for me that this did play a part in his decision making and actions.

I don’t think I would have trouble with not throwing this back at him, but I’m just not certain I won’t think of this when he’s out with those particular friends again, for example. Unfortunately infidelity is rife in one group of male friends and although I don’t feel that’s what this was, I still don’t know if it would still niggle at me.

OP posts:
Baileyscheesecake · 12/12/2019 13:08

Give him the benefit of the doubt. You were getting back together again and enjoying each other’s company again after your rough patch. You have a child together. He’s remorseful which is the most important thing. I would forgive and forget.

embarassednewname · 12/12/2019 13:18

You were broken up, that's all you need to know. I call bullshit on his story but it doesn't really matter.

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