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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

we both like the same guy....what's the best thing to do...

129 replies

doormat123 · 01/07/2014 15:54

This feels so silly.....and I feel like I'm a teenager again. (I'm in my 40s).

I REALLY REALLY like a guy, and we had a few dates a few months ago. We had a snog, and not much more, and he clearly doesn't want to take it further although we are now quite close friends. I'm hoping it will develop.... When we go out, usually once a month, we often have a snog, and always hold hands etc.

We are both on dating sites/Tinder and sometimes talk about our dates but nothing has come to anything yet.

He recently met a friend of mine. I've only known this friend for a year. She told me she won't pursue anything with him as she values our friendship. she said she wouldn't give him her phone number or meet up with him again as she knows how I feel about him and so it wouldn't be fair. I told her that I really appreciate that and thanked her and responded that I too value our new friendship.

I know I could have said that that was silly, and if she is attracted to him then she should go for it, but I decided for once in my life to not be a doormat and to just accept what she said and thank her.

Meantime, I know they are in contact, but don't know how much.

He has said to me that it would be odd if he dated her and that his friendship with me is too important to risk.

I haven't spoken to her since realising that she was going behind my back doing this.

My upset/disappointment is that she is doing this behind my back having said she won't. Not, that she is doing it. She could have said straight off that actually him and me are just friends, and therefore she actaully would like to see if anything happens with them.

Meantime, I am due to see him this Saturday afternoon. I would like to actually know if they have seen or are seeing each other, and just don't know how to play it. I feel perhaps I should cancel him, and step back and let whatever they want to evolve evolve, and then see what has happened in a month or two?

I don't want to get petty and ask them what's going on. They have both individually said to me that their friendship with me is the most important thing here, yet their possible actions show otherwise. Plus I then give them something to discuss and say I am being silly.

Do I step back? As I am writing this I think this is perhaps the most sensible thing to do. But I am really falling for him big time.

Do I ask one of them what's going on, and if they are planning on seeing each other again - but then I look petty and it just isn't necessary?

Any advice please? I feel like I'm 18 again. But we had an unspoken code of conduct then. Now I don't know what to do. Just disappointed mostly. xx

OP posts:
doormat123 · 01/07/2014 17:45

I like that line!

OP posts:
BuzzardBird · 01/07/2014 18:08

Well, if you don't want to feed his ego how about saying "I hope you don't mind but there is someone who can only see me Saturday and he is very keen, would you mind if we postponed?" and then just don't re-arrange. Make yourself 'in demand'.

doormat123 · 01/07/2014 18:10

Haha I like that too! But then it leaves him asking when to rearrange etc.
God I'm pathetic aren't i.
Sorry!!!

OP posts:
BuzzardBird · 01/07/2014 18:17

No, that's ok because every time he tries to re-arrange you have no time available as you are getting so many dates recently :)
At least let him think he has missed a great opportunity.

doormat123 · 01/07/2014 18:20

So let's hope tomorrow night goes well then. And maybe he will want to see me on Saturday too?

OP posts:
BuzzardBird · 01/07/2014 19:11

Good luck Thanks

Quitelikely · 01/07/2014 19:30

I would just stand him up. Then if he texts or calls to ask where you are. Just say you forgot........ooooppss

alphabook · 01/07/2014 19:31

I disagree with Buzzard. This isn't about him and trying to play a game with him by acting mysterious and trying to make him want you.

He's just not that into you. If he was, he'd be with you. At the same time, he's not really your friend either, if he was he would respect the boundaries of friendship.

I agree with Patience's approach - text him and tell him you want to cancel Saturday, you don't feel your friendship is working and it's not something you want to continue. This "friendship" isn't healthy, you need to end it, and playing games trying to make him "want you back" is not helpful or healthy either.

doormat123 · 01/07/2014 19:45

Thanks, but I can't just stand him up. We've already discussed where we will go (yesterday) and we text several times through the day so I can't just forget.

Alphabook - that is a good point. I guess I really do need to make a break from the nothing that is going on.

Will my next thread be 'how do I stop thinking about him?!'

OP posts:
BuzzardBird · 01/07/2014 20:04

No, it's not about him (no-one said it was). It is about doormat changing the way she thinks about herself. It is not a game, it is a confidence booster.

ohldoneedtogetagrip · 01/07/2014 20:14

Just send the bloody text and take it from there.
You are getting tired up in knots over this patiences text was a good one. delete his number-he is playing you.
Hold you head up high, just now he knows he has you exactly where he wants you like a wee lap dog desperate for any attention. Strutting about like a cock--coz that is what he probably is.
Come on you know you can do better, find someone who is interested in a relationship with you not someone who is keeping his options open

SolidGoldBrass · 01/07/2014 20:24

He's probably doing just the same to the other girl, anyway. Either he's feeding his ego by being not-qute-available to every woman he meets because he likes watching them set their own chuffs on fire trying to be The One He Will Choose, or he's not actually looking for a relationship with a woman at all. He might even be gay and trying not to be.

But if he's not being very fair, nor are you. Trailing around after him with your tongue hanging out while insisting that you're OK with being just friends is dishonest and a bit creepy. Walk away.

pictish · 01/07/2014 21:25

You ask how you can stop thinking about him? Accept that he's not going to be your next big thing, and you will stop wondering about him sooner or later.

MysteryMan1 · 01/07/2014 23:16

Agree with most of the others. It is a confidence boost for him to have 2 women after him.

However you need to have some confidence in yourself and think you are the prize rather than him...plenty of attractive people in the world and never good allowing someone to make you play to their tune so early in a 'relationship'. If you were a guy, I would advise you to 'grow a pair'!!

doormat123 · 01/07/2014 23:33

Update.....i texted and said I need to cancel and he phoned. He asked why and what's wrong and I was just honest. We have been friends and talk about a lot so was actually easy to speak about it and I said that I'm not sitting waiting for him, I told him I have a date tomorrow and also Friday (true, just arranged it) but that I do really like him as more than friends and therefore this friendship doesn't work for me and I need some space. I said I'm going on holiday in a couple of weeks for 2 weeks and maybe we'll catch up after that...(I know - I'm hopeless!). He was actually lovely on the phone and am now feeling very sad,.,.but it was prob the right thing to do for myself. Please don't be annoyed with me or what I said - the thing is I've done it and walked away :( I'm v upset now....having a little tear...or 2. Which I guess shows it's wrong - he probably isn't even giving it that much thought :(

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 01/07/2014 23:36

Why would we be upset at you ? i think you have handled it ok. Have a couple of tears and then pull your socks up. Plenty more fish in the sea...and the next one could be a lot more into you.

Next !

alphabook · 01/07/2014 23:38

No, it's not about him (no-one said it was). It is about doormat changing the way she thinks about herself. It is not a game, it is a confidence booster

But the problem with that approach is that the confidence boost comes from him supposedly being jealous. When a) that may or may not even happen and b) it still reinforces the idea to the OP that her confidence is wrapped up in him wanting her (that's what I meant about it being about him). She needs to end it completely, and that includes ending her own belief that she needs him and needs him to want her.

doormat123 · 01/07/2014 23:39

Thanks....feeling pretty upset right now....whether or not he's a friend or a player or just boosting his own ego...there's something about him I really do like....

OP posts:
aurynne · 01/07/2014 23:39

doormat123, a guy who likes you and is interested in you will move mountains to get to be with you. He will pursue you. He will show you how interesting he finds you. He would only have eyes for you.

This guys is just not interested. He isn't. You ARE making a fool of yourself and being a doormat. Please have some dignity and tell him to sod off.

SolidGoldBrass · 02/07/2014 00:39

Just because you fancy someone doesn't mean that person owes you a relationship.

It's perfectly possible to like someone, enjoy that person's company and yet not feel any sexual desire for him/her. But when that person starts to desire you, and makes it obvious, it's not a very nice position to be in. You may not want to lose the friendship and, if you like your friend, you may not want to hurt his/her feelings by actually explaining that you'd rather have sex with a bucket of soapy frogs than with him/her, but you are now in a position where everything you do is wrong.
Cutting contact with the lovesick friend is heartless but trying to maintain the friendship is 'leading him/her on'/'being a player'. This chap can't win.

botanicbaby · 02/07/2014 00:49

aw OP I think you did really well, I know you won't feel like it now but truly did. enjoy your dates and holidays and listen to the wise words on here.

yes of course there's something about him that you really did like...but there will be others even if it doesn't seem like it now. there will

in the past, I got fixated on people and then, god knows how, probably with the luxury of time, found myself looking back and seeing it for what it was at the time. a one-sided crush or something! better things around the corner, hang in there.

BringMeTea · 02/07/2014 02:27

Well done OP. Really well done. Onwards to new opportunities.

SGB you made me laugh. The he might be gay comment.... Grin

KoalaDownUnder · 02/07/2014 03:52

I think you were really honest, adult and decent about it, OP. You have handled this really well. Go forth with your head held high!

(ps let us know how the new dates go!)

BuzzardBird · 02/07/2014 09:52

Well done OP. Now he is off the menu perhaps you can enjoy your other dates a little more and give them a chance?

Be prepared for him making a massive u-turn though as he won't like it if you are not running after him anymore. It will be short lived, keep that in mind.

hellsbellsmelons · 02/07/2014 10:02

Morning door
Hope you got some sleep and you are feeling a bit better this morning.
You handled it very well last night.
Try not to think about him.
Think about your date later.
I hope it goes well.
Keep us updated.