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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:
DYWMB · 09/04/2021 21:08

I'd not bother anymore.
You're just going to end up competing for attention while he pretends to not understand the issue.
You'll be in baking competitions before you know it.

He's set the precedent that you can never complain about anything they do as you'll be seen as controlling.

Does he choose time on dog walks with her over time with you?

I'd be irritated if my dh had any friend that he prioritised over me like that.

I'd have eaten the whole cake myself.

MumUndone · 09/04/2021 21:13

Walk away.

toocold54 · 09/04/2021 21:17

However, BF is less than honest about things.

Him lying regardless of what it is about would really bother me, his friendship wouldn’t.

NCJustgetoverit · 09/04/2021 21:19

Deleting messages would be a huge red flag for me. Also the fact that he is lying even though he knows you want him to be honest. He’s now starting to gas light you saying that the problem is with you being too controlling, rather than him being continually dishonest. He said he would put you first but he isn’t OP.
Long time ago now but my boyfriend had a friend like this. And yes they eventually got together, oh how I laughed when they realised they were much better as friends, and had wrecked their relationships with their partners, and each other, for nothing.

BebesChamber · 09/04/2021 21:23

I had this with an ex.

The lies. Deleting messages, him never mentioning when he sees her and would only mention it if I flat-out asked. There were SO MANY arguments about her and I could never fully trust him. I dumped him after a few years as I got sick of it amongst other reasons.
They got together officially within a few months of us ending.

The only reason they aren't together is because of you OP so I'd cut your losses now.
You deserve someone who will give you their full attention.

ZenNudist · 09/04/2021 21:25

I'd bet the messages are him slating you to her or her stroking his ego and him saying how great she is. I bet he doesn't fancy her. Or not enough. I am sure he likes the attention.

Agree with the poster who said they are in a relationship even if it's not sexual. You aren't unreasonable to want to ditch him.

WellLarDeDar · 09/04/2021 21:25

You deserve better. Leave now because longer you stay the more it will chip away at your self esteem, confidence, ability to trust and happiness and you'll find yourself changed when it inevitably comes crashing down and reversing that damage will be hard. I was in the exact same position as you many years ago and if I could go back and tell myself to walk away sooner I would.

LolaSmiles · 09/04/2021 21:25

Whether they are just friends or something more, his behaviour and attitude towards your relationship means is concerning.

You sound reasonable because you've not got a chip on your sboulder about opposite sex friendships. He has been up front with you, told you that this friendship has caused issues, and been clear that this friendship is particularly close. The reason your guy is saying something is off is because something is off. He is prepared to lie to you and then minimise his lying as something he had to do in case you made a fuss.

You're worth more than a man who is far too connected to someone else, platonically or otherwise.

Iflyaway · 09/04/2021 21:28

As my lovely gay mate would say..... NEXT!

He's not making you happy OP and that should be the bottom line.

Also, I couldn't be doing with all the furtiveness. Fuck that.

Somethingkindaoooo · 09/04/2021 21:28

This will only get worse....

The more crap he pulls, the more you doubt yourself. It gets harder to figure out what is reasonable in the endless cycle of him lying by omission/ you getting worried/ him lying by omission....
The waters get so muddy that its impossible to figure out which end is up.

Theunamedcat · 09/04/2021 21:29

The cake situation sounds like complete BS she is supposed to be his best friend but has only just found out what cake he likes? My best friend loved banana and chocolate chip muffins I've known this for donkeys years and when I bake them I drop her some off

SergeantCatFlap · 09/04/2021 21:30

Does he have to tell you about every conversation or meeting with every other friend he has, or do you just insist on this one?

MrsDoctorDear · 09/04/2021 21:32

Can't believe you've wasted 2 years on this knobhead. Cut your losses.

Peanutbutterandbananatoastie · 09/04/2021 21:37

I don’t think that there is anything going on between them. I think he’s a manipulative prick who enjoys undermining your confidence and keeping her on a hook.

Dump him.

HotPenguin · 09/04/2021 21:39

What everyone else said, this is not a normal friendship they have, she is fawning over him with the cakes etc.

MushMonster · 09/04/2021 21:40

Just leave him, chuck him out of your life and never look back.
This kind of thing erodes and erodes and erodes at you.
He knows it. He is the controlling one. He wants you to doubt yourself, till you become a doormat. He has tried with the others too, with this "friendship" thing.

altlife · 09/04/2021 21:40

He lies and then blames you for the fact he 'has to' lie.

End it.

This situation is never going to change. If he swore to never see her again he'd resent / blame you for it.

You can't win here.

Find a guy who 1) is happy to pull back from friendships because he wants to invest time and effort into your relationship, and 2) has friends who respect this, because they're mature, decent people.

cakecakecheese · 09/04/2021 21:46

If he'd just continued the way he started by being open and honest then there wouldn't be an issue but the cover ups and sneaking around have ruined that not to mention the gaslighting by saying it's you. It's not you. You deserve better.

GladysTheGroovyMule · 09/04/2021 21:49

You’re 2 years in and you sound unhappy, paranoid (maybe for good reason, maybe for no reason) and you have to wonder, is it worth it? In my experience these men are never worth this hassle and misery.

Hhusky · 09/04/2021 21:54

I'm not a jealous person at all but I would walk away here.
What happens when you have an argument, does she know everything? What about if you're going through a dry spell in your sex life, would he tell her more than you're comfortable with?
This wouldn't be for me at all and I can totally understand why you're pissed off with her.

Hastybird · 09/04/2021 21:55

YANBU. Too much drama on his part for this to work. It's easy to be friends with someone if the opposite sex without all this BS, he seems to be stoking up trouble/jealousy with his actions? Whereas he could be just normal about it, as you would be with any regular friend 'Oh so cool, Jayne made me a cake today and dropped it round - want a slice it's lovely?'. Makes me think he enjoys all the drama and don't even get me started on reading text messages.
If I could take a punt I'd say maybe he likes her, she's not into him but they enjoy go back and forth with each other and the drama of a 3rd party 'oh no, girlfriend is jealous again about us' blah blah. Very boring for you - NEXT!

rainbowstardrops · 09/04/2021 21:57

There's having a best friend of the opposite sex and there's having a best friend of the opposite sex.
If he's deleting messages and withholding information then he clearly doesn't think this is ok.
He doesn't sound like he'll ever prioritise you, so unfortunately I'd walk away. You don't need three people in a marriage/relationship

LolaSmiles · 09/04/2021 21:58

Does he have to tell you about every conversation or meeting with every other friend he has, or do you just insist on this one?
Way to miss the point.
The OP has no issues with opposite sex friendships. There's a reason that she's feeling how she is and it's because his behaviour is shady.

I'm regularly defending opposite sex friendships from the more irrational claims that people should cease all opposite sex friendships to prove they cam be trusted /nobody should want to have an opposite sex friendship if they are in a relationship etc, but what the OP is describing is not a typical opposite sex friendship.

chillidoritto · 09/04/2021 22:02

YANBU.
I would NOT put up with this.

MahMahMahMahCorona · 09/04/2021 22:08

The lad doth protest too much. He keeps telling you (projection?) that you'll "make an issue over nothing". Clearly, it isn't nothing.

Sorry @iriswildflower - if I were you I'd make a scarf with all those red flags, and trot off into the distance. Don't even say "I told you so" when you learn about their wedding in the future.

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