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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Could I have handled this better? Made him leave

495 replies

Brooklans · 25/06/2025 21:06

I originally met a man 18 months ago. Although nothing happened, we kept in contact as friends through text and social media. Recently, we started to get closer. For a month we spoke everyday, talking about our days, and deeper conversations to do with our families, past grief, and bad relationships we’d had. So after a month, we decided to go on a proper date. Date went well, although no kiss, both went home separately.

A few days after our date I was due to go abroad for a month to take some time out and relax at my mum’s timeshare apartment in a hot country. As we’d just had our date and I didn’t want to wait a month to see him again, I invited him to fly out and stay for 6 days (6 hour flight away)

We both agreed no pressure, it’ll be a friendship holiday for us both, we’ll each have our own rooms, and we’ll just see what happens. I also told him he can feel free to do his own thing sometimes if he wants. So a week after I flew out, so did he.

He arrived on Sunday very late at night, I picked him up at the airport and we both went to bed soon after we got back, to our separate rooms.

The following morning, on Monday, we went to the beach together. Then we went back to the apartment, and I went to visit my friend for a couple of hours. I came back, and we went out for a meal. During the meal I started to realise that I don’t feel the spark I was hoping and couldn’t see us progressing into anything beyond a friendship. We got back to the apartment and he asked if I wanted to watch something with him. I excused myself and went to bed early but told him to make himself at home and watch whatever.

The next morning on Tuesday I went to the gym alone and ran some errands, I texted him to say I’d be home no later than 4 hours, and once I’m back we’ll go to another beach together. I took slightly longer and he texted me asking how long I’ll be. The apartment is in the middle of no where and nothing I’m walking distance, so I could tell he was getting a bit restless. When I arrived back he didn’t say it but I could tell he had got a bit impatient. I grabbed my things to go to the beach, and told him I’d drop him off at the beach and meet him there later as I had to help the friend I saw the day before with something. He looked put out. I gave him some swimming equipment as I know he likes water sports/swimming. I dropped him off at the beach and said he’d see me later. It felt awkward.

A few hours later I rung him to say I’d only be another hour then I’d pick him up. He said “Pick me up? I thought you were joining me not picking me up?” I said I just wanted to relax at the apartment, it had been a long day. But he was more than welcome to stay there and I’ll pick him up later. He said okay he’ll stay, and will speak to me later.

Then I get a text saying “Do you even want me here? You seem to be taking your time with everything and last night you went to bed early you said to sleep, but I heard your tv on still a couple of hours later. I don’t need free accommodation and lifts if i wanted a holiday alone I could do that. I came to spend time with you.”

I reminded him of our talk before he arrived, that he’ll be free to do his own thing too. It was a casual arrangement and that I can’t put everything on hold because he’s here for 6 days. Said that I’m tired and I don’t feel like chilling on a beach and I need to help my friend. He just replied “Okay help your friend, I’ll call you later when I’m ready to come back”.

At that point it felt more awkward than it had done when I dropped him off, so I screenshotted a flight home for that night, at 11:30pm to him with the message “If it’s going to be awkward like this now and you’re going to make me feel like I can’t do what I’d usually do, I’d rather book you this flight home. You’ve woken up in a mood this morning I’ve not done anything wrong”. He immediately texted back “Okay book it”. I told him to book it and I’ll transfer the money. And said it had been an awkward day.

He said “You’re the one making it awkward, I’ve not been here 48 hours yet and you’re sending me screenshots to flights home because I asked you one question. I said help your friend and I’ll see you later tonight. I can’t fly home tonight It’s 5:30pm already I’ve been swimming I don’t have time to shower and pack and make it to airport in time. I’ll fly home tomorrow, don’t worry no awkwardness from me. See you later”

At this point I’m annoyed that he’s dictating when he will leave as he’s the guest. I texted back “I still think it’s better you leave tonight to be honest I don’t want any awkwardness”. He replied “Okay”.

When we got back to the apartment it stated we were unable to book the flight online as it was under 5 hours from the departure time. As the airport is a while away and there wasn’t a guarantee he would get a seat once arriving there, I said he could stay the night and I’ll sort him a flight for the next day. He was annoyed, he said that he’d also realised we weren’t right together romantically but that I was treating him unkindly and kicking him out so soon because of it, he was still prepared to remain friends. I said I’d asked him to leave as he’s was being awkward, not because of that. He went for a long walk after that, then went straight to his room.

Following morning, on the Tuesday I went out again. When I came back he was sat on the balcony and stayed there. I made some food and went for a shower. Before I go in the shower I texted him “Hey, what time is your flight? I might be able to take you to the airport, if not I’ll get my friend to take you. He’ll do it for half the price taxi drivers charge around here. I can also drop you off at another beach for the day. Just let know what time your flight is so I can plan my day”.
After my shower he knocked on my door and said with a snarky attitude “Why are you texting me when you can see I’m on the balcony? And you say I’m awkward ! I haven’t booked my flight you said yesterday you’d sort it” I replied “No I told you to book it and I’d send you the money for it but fine I’m not going to argue I’ll book it now” I booked him a flight, paid for it with my own money. Only time for that day was at 11:30pm. Told him what time his flight was, and I’d get my friend to take him to airport. He says, again with an attitude “Great nice 6 hour flight at midnight. Fantastic” At this point I can’t wait for him to leave.

Dropped him off at beach for the day and my friend picked him up in evening for airport, he didn’t even say bye to me. Has since blocked me on everything.

I really struggle with awkwardness. Was I BU or was he?

OP posts:
Imisscoffee2021 · 25/06/2025 21:55

Brooklans · 25/06/2025 21:47

Yes I think this was the case, I panicked. I should have told him I didn’t feel a spark and let’s spend the week as friends. But I didn’t get the chance to have that conversation, he was already acting off and the mood had soured at that point.

But the mood has soured because of your behaviour, it sounds like he was stuck wherever you left him as he needed you to collect him or pay expensive taxis? So as a guest in the early days of a stay, platonic or not, to not have access to things without your host and for your host to then leave you alone the vast majority of the day isn't a good feeling and it's at least incredibly impolite, at worst downright rude.

If you don't like awkwardness then state early on your plans, not because you have no spark, but because you had plans that didn't include him that day and he could have planned accordingly. Then two people wouldn't have such vast differences of expectation for how the day will pan out and end up with an awkward chat via text, which always sounds worse than a real life conversation.

He reacted with a "just book it then" because what else could he do with such a direct order to leave from the host, he couldn't say no, he couldn't argue his case clearly, if the host sends a screen shot of flights and tells you to leave, not much else to do?

Cherry8809 · 25/06/2025 21:55

What a gross way to treat someone 😷

Dweetfidilove · 25/06/2025 21:55
Viola Davis Oscars GIF by The Academy Awards

You were monumentally awful and I hope this thread will help you understand that.
You just don't treat people like that.

PeloMom · 25/06/2025 21:55

He was acting up because of your behaviour. You could have communicated you didn’t feel a spark and just hang out; you might have even enjoyed yourself.

Sadza · 25/06/2025 21:55

Nahhh this isn’t real.

TheEveningReport · 25/06/2025 21:55

You were spectacularly rude and out of order, and frankly, odd. All the texting from the next room etc. Poor bloke,

SheSaidHummingbird · 25/06/2025 21:55

I will cover the entire cost of this guy's first-class return travel and the private therapy that he will need to recover from this train wreck. Poor bloke. Yeah, you fucked up OP.

RampantIvy · 25/06/2025 21:56

I really struggle with awkwardness. Was I BU or was he?

Oh come on @Brooklans . How on earth can you not see how badly you have behaved towards this man?

Are you so completely lacking in social awareness?

You were extremely awkward, inhospitable and downright rude. You were very unreasonable.

ThatCyanCat · 25/06/2025 21:56

Brooklans · 25/06/2025 21:47

Yes I think this was the case, I panicked. I should have told him I didn’t feel a spark and let’s spend the week as friends. But I didn’t get the chance to have that conversation, he was already acting off and the mood had soured at that point.

What do you mean, you didn't get the chance to have that conversation? You could have had it over dinner as you realised how you felt, you could have had it when you got home and he asked if you wanted to watch something (he couldn't have been too sour at that point if he suggested that), you could have had it the next day before you bogged off for half the day leaving him alone, stranded and bored.

You treated him horribly.

NWL · 25/06/2025 21:57

You were so unbelievably rude. Like WTF. You were so cruel to him and unnecessarily so.

ClarasSisters · 25/06/2025 21:57

Brooklans · 25/06/2025 21:33

Not sure of the point of this? He wanted to go

Your post literally says "we'll go the the beach together", but clearly you forgot to tell him "and then I'll leave you there to go do something else".

Are you actually surprised he blocked you?

ThisChristmasss · 25/06/2025 21:57

You created the awkwardness. Your poor friend. You sound like an awful person to be honest.

FOJN · 25/06/2025 21:58

Brooklans · 25/06/2025 21:47

Yes I think this was the case, I panicked. I should have told him I didn’t feel a spark and let’s spend the week as friends. But I didn’t get the chance to have that conversation, he was already acting off and the mood had soured at that point.

Even with only your account if what happened I'm more inclined to believe you projected your own awkwardness on to him rather than him acting off. He seems to have communicated in a fairly honest and straightforward way but you managed to make an awkward mess out of it.

The majority of posters defending a man on MN is rare, that's how bad your behaviour was.

OnYerselfHen · 25/06/2025 21:58

Brooklans · 25/06/2025 21:47

Yes I think this was the case, I panicked. I should have told him I didn’t feel a spark and let’s spend the week as friends. But I didn’t get the chance to have that conversation, he was already acting off and the mood had soured at that point.

"The next morning on Tuesday I went to the gym alone and ran some errands, I texted him to say I’d be home no later than 4 hours, and once I’m back we’ll go to another beach together. I took slightly longer and he texted me asking how long I’ll be. The apartment is in the middle of no where and nothing I’m walking distance, so I could tell he was getting a bit restless. When I arrived back he didn’t say it but I could tell he had got a bit impatient. I grabbed my things to go to the beach, and told him I’d drop him off at the beach and meet him there later as I had to help the friend I saw the day before with something. He looked put out. I gave him some swimming equipment as I know he likes water sports/swimming. I dropped him off at the beach and said he’d see me later. It felt awkward."

so you told him you would be no longer then 4 hours and would go to the beach together and then took longer, leaving him restless in the middle of nowhere. Then, after turning up late, decide that you're not going to the beach, but don't communicate this. Just tell him when you go to drop him off. How can you not see that you're the one who caused all the issues?

honestly, my mouth opened slightly at maybe the second or third paragraph of your OP. It was fully gaping open by the time I'd read the whole pose! Shocking behaviour.

Stardust286 · 25/06/2025 21:58

What on earth?!
He flew out to spend time with you and you spent all the time avoiding him and putting him last in all your plans.
You are massively unreasonable!

TY78910 · 25/06/2025 21:59

Wow that is horrendous. I’m sorry but even as friends, you do not fly someone out just to leave them in an apartment in the middle of nowhere. If you invite someone, the expectation is that you host that guest, romantic or not. And if the arrangement was that you do some of your own stuff, you stick to the times you agreed, not text that you’re delayed and piss about for another couple hours. Poor bloke!!! It’s so clear that you didn’t feel the spark so you just wanted to cut him off clean. If this all played out in the country you both live in, you’d have ghosted him.

Blodyneighbour · 25/06/2025 22:00

Yuck. Revolting behaviour from you. You ought to be so bloody ashamed of yourself.

JLou08 · 25/06/2025 22:01

You were awful. Really unkind. You invited him for a 'friendship' holiday then left him alone all day when you realised there was no spark. In accommodation in the middle of no where, in another country. Then sent him home when he raised how it had made him feel. How did you not see how unreasonable you were?

TruthOrAlethiometer · 25/06/2025 22:01

Brooklans · 25/06/2025 21:47

Yes I think this was the case, I panicked. I should have told him I didn’t feel a spark and let’s spend the week as friends. But I didn’t get the chance to have that conversation, he was already acting off and the mood had soured at that point.

He was acting appropriately given your behaviour. You were 100% the problem and you owed him an apology and to be better and fix it, but you just treated him even worse. You were awful.

user1473878824 · 25/06/2025 22:01

Brooklans · 25/06/2025 21:47

Yes I think this was the case, I panicked. I should have told him I didn’t feel a spark and let’s spend the week as friends. But I didn’t get the chance to have that conversation, he was already acting off and the mood had soured at that point.

You really don’t think you’re the problem at all do you. Wow.

MummytoBoth · 25/06/2025 22:01

Wow if this is real and I say if as I cannot imagine anyone acting so selfishly then you are out of order. He must of felt so lonely being invited abroad then left on his own whilst you were with your friends.

CorneliaCupp · 25/06/2025 22:02

Yeah you were out of order. You owe him an apology.

Orlastuff · 25/06/2025 22:03

Oh FFS....you sound absolutely vile.
You should be totally ashamed of yourself.

DodoTired · 25/06/2025 22:03

Sorry you definitely made it awkward and behaved rudely.
you could have just told him that you don’t feel a spark and let him decide what to do

instead of awkwardly avoiding him and then rudely kicking him out less than 48h later

SheSaidHummingbird · 25/06/2025 22:03

Oh I would just love to hear his take on this.