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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

Did my husband cross the line with Platonic Facebook friend.

213 replies

stridz · 21/05/2016 19:49

My 51 year old husband had a Facebook friendship with a very attractive 37 year old - someone who had worked at his office some time ago. There were lots of likes between them, plenty of innuendo and lots of private messages. She has very sexy minx profile pictures and has public settings so I think she enjoys getting attention. She originally asked him to be a Facebook friend (and nobody else from their old office life). He decided he wanted to "get to know her better" as they got on so well - there appears to have been a real spark between them. He questioned himself whether this was the right thing to do but decided to do it anyway as life is too short. So he asked her if she would like to be meet up as he wanted to be "more than Facebook friends". He invited her out to an evening rendezvous in our local city centre on a night when I would be out. He even cleaned the car inside and out beforehand (something he never normally does) and gave her a lift home to her parents house - where she was staying as she no longer lives in this country but reguarly comes back to our city to visit said parents. He wanted to see her before she left the country again. He says he tried to tell me he was going to be meeting her but said I didn't appear to be listening so he assumed it would be ok. He said nothing about his evening out when I returned that night - the night of his rendezvous - but he seemed in a very good mood. The next morning he told me nothing. However I found a receipt in the bin the next day and didn't think much to it but casually asked him about it. He very sheepishly and quite dreamily said it was to do with "seeing his friend before she went back to . There was something about his response that set my alarm bells ringing, and I had to tease the information out of him to find out about his evening out. I think he would have been happy to not say anything. Does anybody else out there think he crossed a line and think he was entering dangerous territory? I think if he had doubts he should have made sure he sat me down and told me about his plans properly. I think she was possibly starting to "reel him in". He said it was platonic, but I feel very uncomfortable about it. What do others think?

OP posts:
stridz · 21/05/2016 20:28

Just a thought - he didn't tell me why he was cleaning the car either ........ I thought it was odd.

OP posts:
stridz · 21/05/2016 20:29

She just had drinks. He ate something. He mentioned on Facebook the next day - publicaly about the quality of her company........

OP posts:
Buzzardbird · 21/05/2016 20:31

He is lying to you and trying to put the onus on the woman. He is low.

It's all a bit 'scripty' isn't it?

stridz · 21/05/2016 20:31

More than Facebook friends...

OP posts:
stridz · 21/05/2016 20:32

He's frustrated with me that I'm not over it yet and bring it up......

OP posts:
stridz · 21/05/2016 20:33

....and vehemently states is was "Just Friendship".

OP posts:
Buzzardbird · 21/05/2016 20:34

Of course he is, you are spoiling his happy day dreams with your endless 'insecurity'. Wives are such a bore when they discover what you are up to, aren't they? Hmm

KittensandKnitting · 21/05/2016 20:34

He went on a date
He then decided to tell the world about what great company she is on FB

He is going to cheat on you unless he reins himself in

KittensandKnitting · 21/05/2016 20:34

He should be begging you for forgiveness

cheekyfunkymonkey · 21/05/2016 20:35

Sorry but if he didn't cheat with her on night out, then he was trying to....still cheating in my book Hmm

stridz · 21/05/2016 20:35

He didn't actually do anything un-platonic - struggling to find the right word - but I feel SO sick about it.

OP posts:
stridz · 21/05/2016 20:38

I threatened eventual/possible divorce. He begged me not to go down that road. He is very sorry - and has vowed to be a better husband - but he doesn't understand why I can't get over it quickly.

OP posts:
HelenaDove · 21/05/2016 20:40

"He's frustrated with me that I'm not over it yet and bring it up."

In which case he wont mind you going on a date with a male colleague or neighbour in the same vein.

Buzzardbird · 21/05/2016 20:41

Ha Helena! Was just thinking the exact same thing!

KittensandKnitting · 21/05/2016 20:42

He needs to understand that you feel betrayed and you can't just "get over it"

Mine would not be a DH for long after this unless he cut all contact was begging for my forgiveness and owning up to his actions and intentions so we could work on it together.

stridz · 21/05/2016 20:46

Yes - he has cut all contact, did beg for forgiveness, and for me not to consider divorce but still strongly states - "it was friendship". We've been working on it for 2 weeks. But yes, the betrayal element keeps raising it's ugly head. I've told him he is to tell me if she tries to contact him again in any way. He understands why it looks bad but he's struggling I think to really get why I feel "floored" by this - even if reasons were "friendship". Is he just very naive?

OP posts:
stridz · 21/05/2016 20:47

Betrayal takes a long time to get over - so it seems.....

OP posts:
Buzzardbird · 21/05/2016 20:48

I actually would not put up with this betrayal. He knew exactly what he was doing...whether he got what he was after or not is completely irrelevant.

He just want someone to wash his dirty pants until she is back in the country for part two.

He's a liar and a shit and you need to tell him to leave whilst you get your head together.

dontcallmethatyoucunt · 21/05/2016 20:49

Naive? No, but he's hoping you are OP

HandyWoman · 21/05/2016 20:51

He understands why 'it looks bad'

He doesn't get it. Not in the slightest.

He doesn't seem to get that HE WENT ON A DATE!!! A NON PLATONIC DATE!!!

He basically has it all sewn up neatly and justified in his head because nobody shagged anyone else. Your feelings of betrayal are an inconvenience, it seems. What an entitled prick.

I couldn't get past that. I just couldn't.

Buzzardbird · 21/05/2016 20:51

Nah, if it had been 'friendship' you would have known all about it and might have even been there.

Your instincts are telling you what it was. Listen to them.

igglepiggleisanarsehole · 21/05/2016 20:51

What a prick, this really isn't ok. How would he feel if the shoe was on the other foot?

SlowJinn · 21/05/2016 20:51

So if you went on a night out with a gorgeous 37 year old man, would your husband think that was okay?

He's a tosser, you don't need him in your life. Kick him to the kerb. Let him pursue (platonically or otherwise) his 'friend' - I bet she runs a flipping mile when he tells her he is now living separately from you!

ImperialBlether · 21/05/2016 21:00

It wasn't just a night out. It was a date. He got himself ready. Got the car ready. Told everyone about it the next day. He's a complete and utter prick. And if he can't understand why you didn't like it, he will carry on behaving like this.

Hissy · 21/05/2016 21:03

She is not a friend, certainly not a friend to your marriage.

There's a book, Not Just Friends I think, by Shirley Glass. It can help.