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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:
MsDogLady · 10/04/2021 04:42

...he assured me that he’d always put me first and he’d learnt from his mistakes in the past.

That was his first lie. Clearly this OW still comes first and always will.

He set up this triangle because he enjoys having 2 adoring women do the Pick Me Dance. This is a pattern that he repeats until each new woman walks away and then he finds another. He always prioritizes his Queen Bee because his primary emotional relationship is with her.

He has an agenda and his games reflect that. His lies of omission, secrecy, and blame shifting are manipulative power plays designed to keep you at bay and on the back foot. It’s an ego trip for him.

Iris, you would be wise to stop sabotaging your life with this loser who diminishes you.

121hugsneeded · 10/04/2021 05:15

Well she's stringing him along and he's stringing you along. Time to get the scissors out and cut the ties between you and him. Life's too short.

JackieWeaverFever · 10/04/2021 05:38

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

This old cheastnut? Been there and done that.
Your gut is screaming at you for a reason - listen to it.
Don't waste your future with this guy - get out now.

WisnaeMe · 10/04/2021 05:42

you are controlling OP.. you're controlling your own destiny by not taking his bullshit a moment longer.

Honestly there is far better out there for you, that doesn't have an already filled sidecar. 🌸

motherrunner · 10/04/2021 06:39

My DH has a female best friend, met at uni and 25 years later still the best of mates. Their relationship is nothing like what you have described. She now lives 300 miles a way but they do send each other presents if they’ve spotted something they know the other would like, the speak regularly etc but it’s not hidden. I also have a WhatsApp thread with her because she’s lovely and our children FaceTime. We go on group holidays (well pre Covid). Tbh the friendship wouldn’t bother me, before kids DH would spend weekends with her but it was never hidden. Also DH’s behaviour with his female friend is exactly the same with his male friends.

Good luck with what you decide but I think you’ll be happier without him. It sounds like a lot of work and you don’t sound happy at all.

SaturdayRocks · 10/04/2021 06:56

My DH has several really good female friends that he’s known since school days, one of whom he went travelling with.

His relationship with them is also nothing like you describe.

They all made me feel welcome when we started going out, and I got to know them, went on holiday with them, etc.

It’s so easy to have a completely above board male/female friendship - your boyfriend and his friend are choosing not to do this.

CharlieSocial · 10/04/2021 07:39

Ditch the arsehole

Mylovelyhorsee · 10/04/2021 08:14

I don’t mention every friend to my husband but he’ll ask what I’ve done each day with the kids (just making conversation sort of thing) so I guess I do tell him. I don’t know why he isn’t forthcoming about his friend it could be innocent or could be more. What we do know is that it’s driving you mad. Is it worth it?

PleaseValentina · 10/04/2021 08:15

He's a rubbish boyfriend, OP. You can do much, much better.

My spidey senses would have been tingling from the off, when he was being sooo honest and sooo open with you about his friendship with this woman. If he really had learned from his mistakes and really did plan to put you first then he would have just done that wouldn't he, he wouldn't have told you he was going to do it Hmm

Actions speak louder than words. He clearly hadn't learned from his mistakes, he is just repeating them over and over. Don't get involved any further, be grateful you're not married and don't have children, walk away and good riddance to your crap ex-boyfriend.

Mylovelyhorsee · 10/04/2021 08:16

Also just read some over comments, one of my best mates is a boy, our relationship is nothing like you eve described and now we all have kids we hang out as families. The only time we may be alone is if we go to the pub but then I’d never not tell my husband and he’s just as likely to go to the pub with my friend without me. As we incorporate our friends into each other lives.

orangegina · 10/04/2021 08:41

I would Not be at all Surprised if the female friend has feelings for him and he keeps
Her hanging on as an ego boost

Or vice versa.

Sounds messy. I wouldn't want to be caught in the middle

IdblowJonSnow · 10/04/2021 08:54

My DH has female friends but this is too much.
One of them fancies the other, it's not clear which. Your BF is manipulating you saying you're being controlling.
Fuck that. I think you posted about this a while back? The bbq thing sounds humiliating. I would be done with this nonsense. You sound lovely, can definitely do better!
I bet if you dump him he will try to crawl back because his ego will be dented...

fairydustandpixies · 10/04/2021 09:06

I was in exactly this same situation. When I became friends with a male colleague (work was horrendous, no one knew what was happening, police were in, cameras up then we were all fired so a stressful time and I worked in the same department as my colleague) my ex decided I was having an affair although he was doing far more with his female friend, texting, going out with her and so on, all in secret. I couldn't put up with the duplicity so dumped him especially after discovering he'd gone with her to buy me an engagement ring! Get rid OP, you'll never feel secure long term.

KarmaStar · 10/04/2021 09:10

Walk away.
Maybe he is in love with her but doesn't know if yet whereas she clearly has open feelings for him.h
This relationship is going to make you doubt yourself.

TwoBreakingIntoOne · 10/04/2021 09:12

My guess is, and apologies if I am repeating, he loves her, she enjoys having him on a string and keeps him hanging

Etsylicious · 10/04/2021 09:20

Ugh I had this situation.

As soon as ex DP and his ‘best friend’ were simultaneously single they got together.

Despite ex DP assuring me he did not feel that way about her and it was all in my head.

They only lasted a couple of months anyway.

Walk away OP. You deserve much better.

rachelvbwho · 10/04/2021 09:23

Female friends are fine. Lying is not.

I would end the relationship there as there is no trust now on either side.

Sorry OP

Looubylou · 10/04/2021 09:23

There are several possible scenarios here - none of which reflect positively on your boyfriend. I was going to say it cannot end well, but actually it can. End it but with no reference at all to his friend - just tell him He personally is not enough - you're not sure why- you just want more out of life. Lightly dismiss any attempt by him to bring her into conversation. Don't snipe or rise to that bait. You are not like his previous GFs - he is just not what you are looking for. Wish him luck and skip out grinning from ear to ear and full of excitement for your new single life.

CalicoKate · 10/04/2021 09:33

Do you think she wants to be with him and he wants a girlfriend and her fighting over him op?

Chrispackhamspoodle · 10/04/2021 09:40

It sounds exclusive-you are not involved.It would be different if you were invited along sometimes or if she made an effort to strike up a friendship with you.As his partner how much she is involved in your relationship should be decided by the 2 of you....not him and her.It seems so disrespectful of you.

SunsetBeetch · 10/04/2021 09:50

@TwoBreakingIntoOne

My guess is, and apologies if I am repeating, he loves her, she enjoys having him on a string and keeps him hanging
Or vice versa. Either way, it's not a healthy dynamic for anyone involved.
rabbitwoman · 10/04/2021 12:27

Ooooooo...... Who knows what these two are up to? I mean, they have known each other for so long so why aren't they together? And frankly, they BOTH know that their friendship is upsetting for you, but are wide eyed in protesting its all so innocent and yet...... At the end of the day, you don't believe him, so what's the point?

Reminds me of being in a similar situation myself 25 years ago - the crap I put up with! My on/off boyfriend and his so called female best mate were blatant and loved to rub my nose in it when we were 'off'..... and then he played us off against each other when we were 'on'..... but SHE also loved playibg me and him off against each other - a delicious additional layer of drama for both of them....

Funnily enough, when me and him split up he moved on and met someone else and suddenly female best mate was also dropped, faster than you could say hot potato. He was heard calling her a stalker and saying he had only been mates with her because she used to give him lifts everywhere.

God knows why people do it - but there are some very grotty people who just love bringing negativity into other people's lives and do you need that? I have a wonderful hubby now. I see the difference and wonder why I ever put up with such shit....

An0n0n0n · 10/04/2021 12:32

Urgh, the classic.

Hi, I'm your boyfriend and I want to put you against my friend to boost my ego. Let me set you up so you have to be the "cool girl" and so different to my exes. But I'll make sure I undermine your trust at every opportunity and frame you as paranoid and controlling.

Seriously, he has always been a dick and he won't change. Let him go so you can be free and he can put a different girl in your position. Seriously, it won't get better.

YoniAndGuy · 10/04/2021 12:37

Oh god dump. I've seen a few of these in action - you're just caught in a twatstorm, it's aas simple as that, so get out of it!

JenerationH · 10/04/2021 12:46

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