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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

DP told his ex he still loves her.

99 replies

Sss506 · 31/01/2017 17:24

DP and I got together officially over a year ago, but have been seeing each other for 2 years, it first started right after he broke up with this woman. It was intended as a FWB/fling type situation but it developed more than expected. We worked together (still do, though only working in the same team twice a week ish), so had been friends for a while and hung out just the two of us a few times, but it genuinely was never even really flirty until after they broke up. He was pretty wounded by her, tbh, so I'm not sure why I'm even surprised at what's happened after. I had no idea how strongly he felt until way after their break up, tbh.

3 or so months into being official he told her he still loved her while drunk, broke up with me the next day, fully planned for them to be together again but changed his mind, a few days later came to my doorstep crying his eyes out that he'd made a massive mistake, we slowly worked back to being together. Given the circumstances of how hard their break-up had been for him (when we were just FWB/friends I was there for him a lot), and how it was early days with us as a couple, I felt like I understood the 'lapse' in judgement so to speak because these things can be difficult and it can be hard adjusting, whatever.

Anyway, last week he started acting very strangely, told me it was to do with family and I believed that as stuff's happened recently that's been pretty shit, plus I saw him sending his mum massively long texts, so I just dismissed it as a few off days. We had a huge argument about how withdrawn and horrible he was being to me and I asked if he had spoken to the ex because he was acting exactly how he had last time he decided he wanted to be back with her. He said no, it's just family stuff. She's not involved.

Yesterday out of the blue she sent me a screenshot of a text he sent. Her text said 'why are you doing this when you're in love with someone else'. His reply was 'I still love you'. And then, is there any possibility in the future of them getting back together. She said not as long as he's with me. He said 'just answer the question'.
His justification was he had a dream about her, it brought back painful memories (similar excuse to last time, tbh), he made a spur of the moment reckless decision, spoke to his mum about it, realised how stupid he was being and that he loved & wanted to be with me more than anything and stopped talking to her.

The first time it happened I was fucking devastated, it made me so ridiculously miserable, it sounds stupid but I genuinely felt it hurt me more than any other relationship issue has in the past even though it was so early days. I just have had incredibly strong feelings for him for a long time. but now I just feel so numb and blank. We have been so so happy in the past few months. I never thought it'd happen again. We've got two holidays booked in the next few months. 90% of my friends are his friends. We don't live together, but it was on the cards in the next few months. I just feel blank and numb. He keeps messaging me, telling me he loves me, he's so sorry, all what you'd expect. Cried on the phone when he explained what'd happened, told me he only wants me forever and doesn't know why he keeps sabotaging things.

I know what's going to be said, but still :(

OP posts:
Hellothereitsme · 31/01/2017 17:57

It will not work. Looking back over my life with my STBXH I've realised that on 3/4 occasions I should have dumped him for poor behaviour. I didn't I was stupid. They were the warning signs that a person never really changes. I married him and had kids. He had an affair. On that occasion I got rid. I wish I had done it the first time he over stepped the boundaries of our relationship.

Get rid of him.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 31/01/2017 18:00

Yes, I think you're right, she does want him, but not as much as he wants her.
OP, let him go, you are worth more.
What sort of man discusses his love life with his family !

FatOldBag · 31/01/2017 18:15

You're his second choice. He wanted a guarantee from her that she'd have him back if he dumped you for her. She didn't give it, so he didn't take the gamble of dumping you first, just in case he was left with no girlfriend. He'd rather have you than nobody, but obviously he's rather have her than you. Get some self-esteem back and ditch him.

Puddington · 31/01/2017 18:33

I'm sorry OP Flowers I was in a similar situation many years ago, except the other girl in question was my supposed best friend, I suspected they were flirting and wanted to be together etc and, while I had him in one ear telling me I was crazy and it was nothing, I had her in the other telling me she'd never want to date him, barely even wanted to speak to him after how he treated me so badly...

Naturally, mere days after he and I broke up they were an item. It was awful. While the ex in this situation isn't a personal friend of yours and doesn't really owe you anything, I do get similar vibes and can see it playing out in a similar way -- and your partner, who DOES owe you something, is behaving in an absolutely appalling manner. How can you trust him, and how many times will you have to try to cobble things back together while he cries about his "mistakes"? I'm so sorry, I know how much it hurts, but you do NOT deserve to live like this and I wish I had realised it sooner in my own case. Please do not settle for being second best. I am so much happier now and you can be too.

Underthemoonlight · 31/01/2017 18:36

He is keeping you as an option but it's clear he still wants to be with her this is twice this happened to you. Walk away with your head high.

HandbagCrazy · 31/01/2017 18:42

He's doing a few things here, and they're all bloody horrible.
1 - he's doing this for the second time because he knows you're likely to forgive him.
2 - He's testing the waters with her to see what his other options are
3 - Hes showing you that even when things are going very well with you, he's still thinking about her
4 - Hes letting her know that if she wants him, he'll come running

If I were you, I would run for the hills. Consider what he would do if things were bad between you? And what would have happened if she had initially replied "I still love you too, come back to me."

You deserve better than someone with one foot out the door 💐

Bluntness100 · 31/01/2017 18:42

Sweetie, they want to be with each other, so they will be. It's just a matter of time, you know that. I think it's time to end it.💐

Sss506 · 31/01/2017 18:45

Puddington that sounds awful :( it's almost a saving grace that I barely know her, outside of interactions about him/all this. I'd be losing my shit if it were a friend of ours

Sorry if it sounds as if I am shifting blame to her - absolutely not trying to, but (sorry to drip feed) she has form for lying too. When we first broke up and they were in talks of getting back together and he backed out, she was absolutely awful to me, sending abusive messages etc, and twisted my responses to try and turn dp against me again, etc, which is why I haven't actually responded to her at all this time, she sent me quite a few messages last night and then this morning too but I don't have the energy to reply and get into this big 3-way he said she said argument again. It's all been a bit of a shit show tbh. I'm glad to be seeing the back of it.

Part of me saw what happened last time as 'proof' it was me he loved, not her. She was happy for them to get back together, forgave him for getting with me as it was just a rebound/to help with his pain sort of thing, but when he backed out and came back to me again I think she was very hurt (understandably). I thought this all meant he truly wanted me, but I think now it's just coming down to me being the safe option again, perhaps he was scared to get back with her for fear of the epic break-up again, etc. I know she broke up with him in the first place but then begged for him back a few weeks later and out of integrity he said no and then things happened with me.

Thank you all for the responses, it's the reality I need right now.

OP posts:
TeaMeBasil · 31/01/2017 18:46

What a little toad. You know what you have to do, I think you just need to hear it, so read all these replies, tell him to do one and don't let him take up any more of your time than that.

You'll never trust him again, ever and you'll not respect him. He's weak and selfish. I know it hurts now but make the break, I think you'll soon realise you're better off without him. You can do better than this.

TeaMeBasil · 31/01/2017 18:48

Knowing you are the 'safe option' will eat away at you, ugh, I was the second best option once and it was awful. Only fix is to walk away and find someone who values you.

Sss506 · 31/01/2017 18:49

Handbagcrazy

Those 4 things are all exactly things i've been thinking :( particularly the 1st one. one of the 1st things I thought was how stupid and gullible and forgiving he thinks I am. so he knew he could pull this shit without consequence. (obviously not anymore!)

OP posts:
Chinnygirl · 31/01/2017 18:58

It's not important what a man tells you, it's important how he treats you.

So he is still in love with his ex and trying to get her back. He won't let go of her. He knows from last time that he hurt you and now he does it again. Why are you still with this user?

lollylou2876 · 31/01/2017 18:59

So you were seeing him before they officially split and now he chasing back after her - karma I'd say!

Deranger01 · 31/01/2017 18:59

exactly and you're young, single and in a position to be a picker of a nice partner who respects you and is excited to choose you as his first choice, why would you entertain this rubbish? It'll be a whole lot sadder once he's mucking around messaging her if you had DC together. Show him the red card - if he was certain you were the one he wouldn't be messaging her. What are you winning here? Even if you won him, she'd always be lurking. He shouldn't be engaging in this at all.

Sss506 · 31/01/2017 19:03

lollylou, actually I made it quite clear in my OP that nothing even remotely flirty happened until they were separated. I didn't think anything of us hanging out as friends. I don't think anything of hanging out with my male friends alone now I have a boyfriend either.

OP posts:
Checkthisout · 31/01/2017 19:03

It's not important what a man tells you, it's important how he treats you.

Chinnygirl!! This is the one thing that took me to actually learn AFTER my relationship ended.

He told me all the right things but acted like an absolute wanker!

If there's one thing I wish I learnt ages ago it's this.

frieda909 · 31/01/2017 19:04

lollylou Where have you got that from? OP never said she was dating him while he was seeing his ex. What a nasty thing to say.

lollylou2876 · 31/01/2017 19:05

" Given the circumstances of how hard their break-up had been for him (when we were just FWB/friends I was there for him a lot)"

I say that because first you say you didn't get together untill after they split, then suggest you were FWB when they split, which contradicts the start of the post

Sss506 · 31/01/2017 19:09

no, it doesn't contradict it, you've just misunderstood

Timeline:

  • they break up
  • we begin FWB & i'm there for him as a friend at the same time about the break up. their breakup didn't stop being hard the minute he kissed me. obviously
OP posts:
Sss506 · 31/01/2017 19:11

Check this out/ chinny girl

I think that's what I really need to get into my head! Words really do mean nothing compared to his actions. It's the same words and the same excuses all over again :( yet no change in action.

OP posts:
lollylou2876 · 31/01/2017 19:13

Well why would you say and I quote

"Given the circumstances of how hard their break-up had been for him (when we were just FWB/friends I was there for him a lot)"

Not nasty at all just a point, you either were or weren't seeing him beforehand

lollylou2876 · 31/01/2017 19:15

Thanks for the clarification and I'm sorry for any offence caused.

I'd personally split until he realises what it is he actually wants, you should be his priority

Sss506 · 31/01/2017 19:16

lollylou, no offence taken don't worry, it was confusing on my part, I didn't word it very well! i genuinely just meant the aftermath of the breakup/the "getting over" process iyswim? thank you. x

OP posts:
OurBlanche · 31/01/2017 19:19

Get your head straight, erase him form your life and heart.

Then, when you have settled into the idea, send her a text thanking her for saving you from making an error of judgement and wish her well in her life.

Practice saying it until you find you mean it and then send the text.

She has done something many MNers wish someone had done for them... sod her motives! If she is mad enough to try and get him back that is her prerogative. He has played his last game with you... hasn't he?

JustSpeakSense · 31/01/2017 19:23

I think he needs to decide what he really wants, you need to step back for a while, break up with him. Let him spend some time on his own and see if he tries to go back to her.

Take the time for yourself to do some of your own soul searching. If you are meant to be together it will work out eventually.

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