Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

Very complicated Situation - FWB/ Friend/ Ex - Need advice please!

215 replies

sheryl77 · 22/05/2019 14:43

I’ve been ‘seeing’ a guy since last August who was my ex 17 years ago (we were together for four years). We meet every few weeks for sex (he’s in between two countries) and both agreed it would be fun, no commitment (I’m just in the process of getting divorced and he’s been recently hurt).

When we are together, its amazing..great sex, we talk, he confides, he spends the night (he asks to stay), we are literally on the floor laughing when we are together. When we are not having sex, he’s always initiating cuddles in bed at night and in the morning randomly holding my head up to kiss me like a boyfriend (albeit, he’s not). He’s asked me out for brunch the last time we meet and I declined as wasn’t ready to ‘step outside’ with him.

As it’s casual, I am guessing he is seeing other people (I am not as have no time and not one to shag multiple men). Anyway, he uses a condom on and off…I ask him everytime and I know it takes two, but last time he didn’t use one at all despite me asking… (Yes, I know I should respect my body and I should of insisted!).

I sent him a text a week after we met saying I think he’s seeing other woman and to please respect me by wearing a condom. Also be good to know if he has a girlfriend as I don’t want problems! He texted back saying ‘Can’t be acting like your boyfriend, I’m not! (with the nickname he calls me). I responded asking him if he thinks I think of him as a boyfriend (!?) and that I just asked him to practise safe sex that’s all and this feels like its becoming complicated and if this was not fun anymore, we’d better say goodbye….He hasn’t responded in 3 days…

He’s done this awful ‘silent treatment’ before and we end up meeting again…we kind of go through stages where we feel we shouldn’t see each other anymore (I think its because we both freak out we’re getting close or maybe I’m reading too much into things?).

He’s very complicated and I know from being with him previously, when he fears being hurt, he shuts down.

I’m giving him space and won’t contact him again, but can anyone fathom why he’s acted like this? Perhaps he didn’t want to be honest and say he had so deflecting it back on me? I started seeing him when I was having a marriage breakdown and I was always honest with him but if seems he can’t give me the same respect!!

I think I know the answer but I think I need to let this guy go? I don’t need any pain, but the sex is amazing and I do like him as a person (but defo not for long term). I know he likes me as a person, so I don’t know why he acts like this. He told me before he shuts down as its like a self defence thing.

What do you think? Please be gentle as don’t think I can take harsh words on this.

Anyone have similar experiences? Is this a fuck buddy/ friends with benefits or just too bloody complicated?

Thank you x

OP posts:
sheryl77 · 22/05/2019 21:37

I’m just hurt. I don’t want to see him again. I’m disgusted and can’t even imagine being near him now

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 22/05/2019 21:38

It's him that is pulling you down (and you've been letting him)...it's certainly not us

sheryl77 · 22/05/2019 21:41

I think if you have nothing productive to say please kindly refrain. I’m fully aware and don’t need shit on here as well. Thank you

OP posts:
Chocmallows · 22/05/2019 21:45

Maybe you are on here to get it out of your system and you cannot vent to him so vent on here.

If you could get revenge, what would you do?

Think it, or share here, but do not do it. Instead move on!!

SillyBillyBandy · 22/05/2019 21:45

You're a good person! That's why you've seen the nice side to him

Now you've realised he's a cock you can start to move on.

Ticklingcheese · 22/05/2019 21:45

Be nice 😀

We all make mistakes op, we are only stupid when we don't learn from them.

Wishing you peace of mind 😀.

ThatCurlyGirl · 22/05/2019 21:46

I don't think you're stupid at all OP and I'm sorry if that's how it came across - we've all been there! I just know from my own experience the only way I've been able to stop obsessing is by absolutely cutting someone off. I don't look at their social media, I block them, delete old chats etc. And every time I'm tempted to look / message etc I think to myself "what is the best outcome from doing this?"

If they're online and not messaging you it's shit, if they're offline you wonder if they've blocked you etc etc - no good comes from obsessing - it's over now.

Look back fondly on the amazing shags and close the door. Then in a while you can look back fondly on how you kept your dignity and maintained your boundaries.

Come on OP you can do it Smile

sheryl77 · 22/05/2019 21:47

You are right I am venting and just wanting some support, that’s all. We all make mistakes. I have no inclination to contact him now. It’s his loss not mine. I’ll probably get shitty comments back but im way too good for him! He’s not even that attractive! He doesn’t work, I’m head of a department. He wants a son, I have one! And I don’t have to fill my life with meaningless sex as I’m worth so much more. I just need to think this every day and not think about it. It was what it was. Sex.

OP posts:
Femalebornandbreed · 22/05/2019 21:49

Oh OP don’t be too hard on yourself.

I had one of these. I think he does enjoy spending time with you and enjoying the ‘girlfriend experience’ but he doesn’t want to make you one.

Take control back and call it a day. There is plenty more fish in the sea!

sheryl77 · 22/05/2019 21:49

Thank you. The thing is I didn’t learn my lesson the first time around and clearly still stupid 17 years later!!

OP posts:
sheryl77 · 22/05/2019 21:50

I’m trying, it’s hard....

He said many times he enjoyed spending time with me whether he meant it or not I don’t know but we were always on the floor laughing when we were together! That’s what’s hurt. It didn’t feel like just a shag. But it was. I’ll have to get over it and yes think about the mind blowing sex we had!

OP posts:
sheryl77 · 22/05/2019 21:51

On my own life I never saw him as a boyfriend (not again!), just wanted to have fun and realised I still liked and cared for him but NEVER to be with him long term!

OP posts:
category12 · 22/05/2019 21:52

Probably best to avoid thinking about the sex until you're genuinely indifferent to him.

Chocmallows · 22/05/2019 21:52

Vent away, he sounds like a right twat and it will help you get over the dissapoinment.

If you get used to dating again you'll find better boundaries, the dissapoinment is lower as anyone taking the piss can be shown the door earlier on and...NEXT!

Ticklingcheese · 22/05/2019 21:52

Aww come on, there is no need bashing yourself, find/think of something to build your self-esteem.

sheryl77 · 22/05/2019 21:53

Actually to be honest the sex wasn’t that great last week. He came within 2 minutes! Not fun!!

OP posts:
Erythronium · 22/05/2019 21:53

I’m not blocking him as that means to him I care*

No blocking him means you don't care. You'll never know he's contacted you and it won't matter to you.

Not blocking him leaves the door open for him to come back, tell you whatever lies suit you and to carry on as before.

You know he's seeing other people, why would you put up with this?

sheryl77 · 22/05/2019 21:55

He won’t come back trust me. He can’t get any so why would he. I just find it harsh to do and I’m just not like that.

OP posts:
sheryl77 · 22/05/2019 21:55

A casual relationship people can see other people I just wish he’d been honest! I was honest during my marriage breakdown and thought he’d give me the same respect.

OP posts:
sheryl77 · 22/05/2019 21:58

Sorry I misworded that as wasn’t a relationship! I was one of his holes. Simple really

OP posts:
Moralitym1n1 · 22/05/2019 22:05

45 with one LT relationship (?) - which failed, and not married to date.

He doesn't really sound functional.

Did you say he doesn't even have a job?!

You can do better - for relationship or for fwb for that matter (not that I recommend you do it again).

ThatCurlyGirl · 22/05/2019 22:06

OP why don't you tell us three nice things you want to do over bank holiday weekend, let's get your mind off this guy!

Have some stuff to look forward to and keep distracted and I think after a few days of that and no contact with dignity intact you'll be feeling great!

Femalebornandbreed · 22/05/2019 22:07

sheryl77 sometimes they are an itch you can’t scratch.

Honestly you won’t always feel like this. Some one new will come along and be 100 times better.

Moralitym1n1 · 22/05/2019 22:08

At the minute you're suffering die to the oxytocin from all the shagging.

Only cure for that is no contact and time.

Don't worry about closure now - youll probably get it done time in the future, but the irony will be that you'll probably be involved with someone good and won't care.

You need to recover and be free to meet that person, now you can concentrate on building up your home hobbies and social life so you have more opportunities to meet then in future.

sheryl77 · 22/05/2019 22:08

Yep. She just walked out apparently. A friend of mine knows her and she’s now a lesbian...not surprised he probably turned her off men! No he doesn’t have a job, he’s on benefits and I’m a hard working professional woman!

OP posts: