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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:
GoWalkabout · 09/04/2021 22:10

These guys hung up on a woman who doesn't want them but strings them along on the back burner are a waste of time. He warned you but didn't change the dynamic that ruined his previous relationships - he needed to create more distance.

GalleryGirl · 09/04/2021 22:13

He repeatedly lies to you - that's a deal breaker.

ClarkeGriffin · 09/04/2021 22:13

If he had nothing to hide, he wouldn't be. He's forever going to have issues with relationship because of her, and he may as well just start seeing her because he has no future relationship with anyone otherwise.

I'd tell him that exactly, and the dump him.

Creamcrackersandricecakes · 09/04/2021 22:18

Another one saying cut your losses and dump him. I was in a relationship exactly like this and it did my head in. She could literally do no fucking wrong in his eyes, (even the blatant shit stirring she engaged in was dismissed as my 'paranoia'). She was also thick as thieves with his family, which included greeting his mum with an enthusiastic, "Hi mummy!"
After we split they didn't get together, much to my surprise, however he moved to the other end of the country a few months later. Six months after that she followed him!!!
Last I heard, (it was many, many years ago), he'd married someone else, but female bestie was still very much hovering around at every opportunity. His wife must have the patience of a bloody saint.
Honestly, find someone nicer. He's not worth it, I promise you. There are lovely guys out there who will respect you and don't come laden down with irritating baggage - go find one!!!

Sarahtrue11 · 09/04/2021 22:26

Don't let him tell you that you are being controlling.

Tell him that this is not working for you as it is, and he needs to maek changes

FireflyRainbow · 09/04/2021 22:33

It's a tricky one. I've got a best girl friend and best boy friend and I've deleted convos from both of them before when I've been moaning about my partner, just in case 😆 I spoke to my best girl friend early and haven't told my bf about it, I'm not hiding it though I just haven't said.

FireflyRainbow · 09/04/2021 22:34

Earlier

ThereOnceWasANote · 09/04/2021 22:38

You are the third wheel here. He already has a main relationship with someone else.

Newkitchen123 · 09/04/2021 22:41

The most important thing here is this relationship is not making you happy.
Walk away

CuntyMcBollocks · 09/04/2021 22:56

He's making an 8ssue of things. Why does he delete the conversations? I find that strange in itself. I don't have a problem with my husband having female friends, but if he was acting how your DP is, then it wouldn't necessarily mean that there's anything untoward going on, but it would certainly make me suspicious.

Igotfiveonit · 09/04/2021 23:20

Well I think you were warned about this right at the start but yet still got into a relationship with him,

I also don’t believe you use his phone for “googling” when I’m sure you have a phone of your own. It’s to use it to check his messages.

You don’t trust him so what’s the point? He’s never going to give up the friendship by the sounds of it and it’s making you become a version of yourself that must be draining.

Tistheseason17 · 09/04/2021 23:23

Yeah, I'd finish it. I'm not playing second fiddle.

Starborn · 09/04/2021 23:35

He's absolutely lapping it up, and you'll never feel secure. Time to kick him to the kerb.

SaturdayRocks · 09/04/2021 23:44

Oh my goodness, bin him off.

Absolutely no way am I anyone’s second fiddle.

Leave them to it - and take pleasure in doing so!

MNWorldisCrazy · 10/04/2021 00:13

Ultimately @iriswildflower in a relationship with you, he should be putting his loyalty to you first - he isn't! He's putting his friendship with her first.

I'd be warning her off personally! However I very rarely find myself handling these situations correctly!!

Summerdayshaze · 10/04/2021 00:21

Sounds terrible. Get rid.

JesusIsAnyNameFree · 10/04/2021 00:29

There's far too much hurt here and if it was me I would have to walk away.

I would probably also tell him (during the dumping) to stop wasting other womens time and just tell her he wants to be with her. It isn't normal that his "friendship" with her has ruined at least a couple of his relationships. It means something, clearly.

MiddleClassProblem · 10/04/2021 00:32

He may not want to be with her, he may just enjoy the drama and making someone jealous makes him feel desired.

JesusIsAnyNameFree · 10/04/2021 00:37

@MiddleClassProblem

He may not want to be with her, he may just enjoy the drama and making someone jealous makes him feel desired.
That makes the fucker even worse. Little shit.
Weirdfan · 10/04/2021 00:43

So his friendship with her has caused problems in his previous relationships and yet it's you with the problem/being controlling? He's an idiot to keep doing the same thing and expecting a different result isn't he really and I wouldn't be hanging around to get dragged into it OP, he's wasted enough of your time Flowers

1forAll74 · 10/04/2021 01:19

Well, you have been in this relationship for two years now, so surely you have the measure of him by now, It's a triangle relationship. and one that he wan'ts to keep,and you obviously don't, so I don't think you will be having much of a fun loving relationship to look forward to in the future.

WisnaeMe · 10/04/2021 02:11

Two years too long. Ditch him OP. Flowers

SaturdayRocks · 10/04/2021 02:20

Nothing is ever going to change.

Susannahmoody · 10/04/2021 02:28

Ain't nobody got time for that shit!

Just dump him and find another

BadNomad · 10/04/2021 03:22

I've been the female best friend in this situation and my advice too is to walk away. There might not be anything sexual or romantic between them but any friendship is inappropiate when it affects his relationships. It's complete selfishness on his part. He's choosing to lie to you because what he wants and needs (which is both of you) is more important than what you or her need. And if he's anything like my friend he'll be slyly sabotaging her relationships too because he doesn't want her to reduce her availabilty for him. It's very, very unhealthy. He is the controlling one. Walk away. You can't win here.

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