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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Boyfriend's female 'friend'.

157 replies

iriswildflower · 09/04/2021 19:43

I've been with my BF for two years now, and I am beginning to get really fed up with his female 'best friend'. I'm starting to feel like a third wheel in my own relationship!

At the start, BF was very open and honest about his friendship with this woman, telling me how they were very close, she was his best friend, in their friendship group she was the one he could really turn to and rely on. She's caused issues in his relationships before me, but he assured me that he'd always put me first and he'd learnt from his mistakes in the past. I was pleased with the fact he'd been transparent and honest about it. I've had relationships with men in the past who've had very close friendships with females and it has never bothered me. However, BF is less than honest about things. The issue all started when he lied about going for dinner with her one time, only for me to find out months later. It just set an unhealthy precedent, and I've never been jealous / controlling in the past, but he is making me feel like I am!

A few examples:

  • He won't mention when he's seen her, only when I directly ask. For example, they will frequently go to the gym together, walk their dogs together, go for lunch/dinner/to a bar... recently he mentioned how much he loves a certain type of cake, so she baked it for him and delivered it to his house. He is never open with any of this, if I ask him how his day is he will never mention it. He only ever tells me if I specifically ask, 'have you seen x recently?'. He doesn't accept that this is lying by omission, he just tells me he doesn't see the point in telling me as I will 'make an issue over nothing'.
  • He deletes their conversations with one another. I have his password so will often use his phone for social media, googling, listening to music and watching films. It became obvious he deletes conversations, as messages from her would pop up whilst we were on his phone, the messages were continuing a conversation, but when he clicked on it, it would be the only message in the chat. When I asked him about this, he admitted he deleted it as he 'doesn't want me to make an issue out of things'.
  • Back in the summer, he had a garden party with all his friends and family. It all got a bit boozy and everyone was a little tipsy. At one point, his mum wrapped her arms around female friend (in front of me and all the other partygoers), and exclaimed 'I love you so much x, you are like a daughter to me!' He has also said that his friends and family have often questioned him on what is really going on in their friendship, whether they are secretly dating etc.

The recent cake situation was the final straw for me, and I told him how unhappy I am with this dynamic. He's now saying he wants to keep the friendship and that I am controlling and he worries I will control other aspects of his life?! I've been in relationships in the past, and never had an issue with them having friends of the opposite sex. They are always open and honest about it. It's got to the point where I want to break up with him because I'm fed up of him lying by omission, not seeing why this might get my back up and feeling like I am in some weird love triangle!

OP posts:
KrisAkabusi · 09/04/2021 19:48

Can he win here? If he told you that he saw her three times this week and she'd baked him a cake, would you be upset? Would you make a big deal of it as he says?

iriswildflower · 09/04/2021 19:51

@KrisAkabusi You are right - I probably would make a big deal out of it. But only because of all the lies/secrecy that has gone on up to this point, I think he didn't start honestly because of the issues that their friendship has caused in the past, so he thought it better just to keep it hidden... when in fact that has made everything worse! Things I wouldn't normally give a shit about, I now give a shit about.

OP posts:
Twinkie01 · 09/04/2021 19:51

God dump him, he lies to you, that's no foundation for a relationship.

Aprilshowersandhail · 09/04/2021 19:53

If my bf needed his ego stroked this amount from a friend I would walk away. He is taking you for a mug.

Flowerlane · 09/04/2021 19:55

I was going to come on and say he is allowed friends of the opposite sex and that they were friends before you came on the scene etc but after reading your full post I don’t see a future for you both. He lies to you and covers his tracks. That would be a deal breaker for me.

He already said there has been problems in the past with other girlfriends seems they pulled him up on it as well.

You could do better. Dump him and don’t look back.

HollowTalk · 09/04/2021 19:56

I couldn't cope with that and would dump him. You shouldn't have to worry all the time about your boyfriend's girlfriend.

Does she have a relationship?

weewoman123 · 09/04/2021 19:56

Unfortunately it doesn't sound like you will be able to move forward with him as he clearly won't stop being dishonest about the whole situation. You will become more paranoid over time and he will feel the need to continue to hide this from you which is going to hurt you both in the long run. It doesn't sound like you have a choice but to leave as you deserve to have someone who puts you first and is willing to be honest about things.

HumunaHey · 09/04/2021 19:59

It just seems like too much work. I'm sure his mother is routing for her son to get with the friend too. I'd save myself the eventual heartache and walk away.

Whether it's him or you that's the problem, the way you are feeling is not good. The friend is clearly getting under your skin and I doubt things will change.

iriswildflower · 09/04/2021 19:59

She doesn't have a relationship and actually that is another point of contention - she seems to confide in BF about the men she is seeing, and a few months ago had a bit of a cry and a hug with him about her failed relationships.

OP posts:
FTEngineerM · 09/04/2021 19:59

Nope, not cool.

I have a male ‘best friend’ and neither of us lie/hide/sneak but we do some of the things you mention like dog walks, meals, walks, I grew him some plants. We’re both in relationships and often go out as a 4 when we can.

It’s weird that he deletes conversations; red fucking flag.

Leavethedooropen · 09/04/2021 20:00

If it’s damaged his other relationships and now this one, he’s got a problem.

Snowfalling · 09/04/2021 20:00

No relationship is worth this much angst. You're just wasting your time. Don't waste a second more on this man. You could be out there living your life, with or without a wonderful guy. We're coming out of lockdown.... grab life with both hands!

DrManhattan · 09/04/2021 20:05

I wouldn't like to be in your situation. Hes said from the outset that he's gonna do what he wants with this 'friend' so there isn't much you can say without coming off as controlling.

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 09/04/2021 20:18

Hes said from the outset that he's gonna do what he wants with this 'friend' so there isn't much you can say without coming off as controlling

His deleting his text messages and his mother's behaviour right in front of you would also be a red flag to me. That was a in your face. Did he notice or comment on it?

iriswildflower · 09/04/2021 20:21

@DuckbilledSplatterPuff I mentioned it at the time and have mentioned it since. He dismissed it mostly, saying that his mum has known her a long time and knows of their close friendship. But he's also admitted that his friends/family have asked if they are 'just friends' in the past. That his family thought for ages that there was something more going on.

OP posts:
FedUpAtHomeTroels · 09/04/2021 20:22

Have you posted about him and her before?
He needs to wake up, he will never have a successful relationship while he puts this friend before the women he dates. I'd walk away.

marmitepasta · 09/04/2021 20:23

I would not like to be in your position. I would dump.

Rae34 · 09/04/2021 20:25

Been there, done that. Much happier without the angst. My ex would also lie by omission and turned out to be a cheat.

I think female friends are fine but I would never again date a man who is living in another woman's pocket this way and vice versa.

B33Fr33 · 09/04/2021 20:25

Urgh. Some friends were like this at uni and for a few years after. To cut a looooong saga short. Lots of damage in their wake. They are now living together. I'd back off. The lies, they're not good.

GoneCrazy · 09/04/2021 20:26

Why don’t they get married and get it done with jeez

AmayaBuzzbee · 09/04/2021 20:26

This isn’t worth it. He is showing to you who is is and where his priorities lie. Just dump him and find somebody who prioritises you.

Therealjudgejudy · 09/04/2021 20:27

Leave. This wont get any better

Aquamarine1029 · 09/04/2021 20:27

Stop wasting your time, op. This relationship is 100% doomed.

Pupster21 · 09/04/2021 20:28

The lies are not good. What’s he hiding? I suspect his true feelings for her. You deserve better. Move on.

Rewis · 09/04/2021 20:28

Have you actually talked about his lies? Had a conversation that you are cool with them hanging out but you'd like him to talk about meeting her like he would about other firneds. And deleting messages is super weird. However, you update about her confiding in him makes it sound like you are not that fine with their friendship?

My guess is that this is learned behaviour from his previous relationships and he is bringing it over to yours. IS there any postential that he thinks you are not ok with the friendship? He mentione you would make an issue of it? Would you?

I found out some time ago that my bf is not the biggest fan of my brother and father. So my way of coming is avoiding bringing them up in converation at all. I never tell him that I'm visiting parents unless he asks. If I do something with my brother I just say "I went to the cinema" and not mention my brother unless bf asks who I have been with. He has never ever made any suggestion about me not seeing them or anyhting. But it is my coping mechanism until I figure this out in my own head. It is possible that your bf is doing the same about her. I also agree that not telling is not lying.

If you don't like the situation you don't have to tolerate it. I would suggest that you think what you think about your relaionship and their relatiosnhip. If you truly are fine with their friendship (it is fine if you are not) the have a talk about him not treating her like anyother friend when it comes to talking about her.