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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

Messages on DP's phone, do we still have a chance?

206 replies

DaisyD22 · 09/08/2019 13:12

Apologies for a long thread but want to avoid drip-feeding. Me and my DP, both 35, have been together for 6 years, we split before as we didn't get on very well and there were also external factors to do with jobs, family bereavement, money etc. which didn't help.
Mutual decision, we stayed friends as had still lots of respect and love for each other. We lived over 1 year apart, then started to become closer and after almost 2 years since 1st split, we got back together, moved in. We spend lots of time talking and making changes to make sure we don't repeat old mistakes. First months were great, almost felt like being in love for the 1st time again but now, almost another year on, we are struggling. We just seem to be different in many aspects, we argue quite a lot. I am career focused, he is more laid back. I am messy, he is tidy. I earn more than him, he just gets by. Sex is not great, it happens but it seems like a chore at times.
I still love him to bits as he is a good and caring man and I do know he loves me too but we just don't get on on a daily basis.
Recently he went to work and forgot to take his phone, and I did something I have never done before, I checked his FB. There were quite a lot of messages between him and one girl, I figured out it is someone he must have been dating or sleeping with when we were apart. The messages between them were rather friendly then sexual and quite reserved from her side but there was certain level of intimacy, as if they knew each other very well.
DP said in one message that me and him are not getting on :( and we might even split in the future... that was after one of our rows. He also complimented this girl many times and many times mentioned how much fun they had together in the past. He mentioned her 'great tits' once, too. Her response to all that is just laughing and changing subject usually. DP sent her a picture of himself, just a selfie and asked her for pictures, too. She ignored it but eventually sent him a couple of pics, night out ones with friends and one pretty selfie, with 'great tits' visible. DP's response was wow you are looking lovely, great, hot, still beautiful.
The messages went on for a couple of weeks, sometimes there were a couple of days with no contact. Last contact was about 3 weeks ago. Her last message was: I don't think we should talk that much while you are still in a relationship with Daisy, which he responded to: yes, I know, it's great to be back in touch but I do need to focus on trying to fix my relation with Daisy so it is best if we don't talk much right now.
I am really confused and upset by these messages. He clearly fancies her and trusts her enough to say we are struggling. It seems like a huge breach of trust. On the other hand,
I know him so well and know he would never cheat. It is just not in his book. So it is not physical now... and it's seems kind of typical for man to think of sex with other women, especially when things are not great at home... But... His FB search shows that he checks her profile out regularly and I also saw some downloaded pics of her in his phone. Most just normal ones but one or two quite seductive selfies, tops with cleavage, shorts, with legs and heels exposed. Not really sure what he saw in her as she is quite average.
She is older than me and I think less attractive but he clearly fancies her.
I just don't know what to do and think. We looked at houses together recently and I am also thinking I don't have that much time left for trying for a child but clearly it is all too messy now to even consider getting pregnant.
Is there any chance from here for me and DP? Should I confront him about it all?

OP posts:
pollypocket952 · 24/09/2019 08:45

Op just read your update re the explicit messages.

Come on OP you know this isn't good. Get some self respect & bloody end it! It is the end unfortunately. Do not be that woman that tolerates this & does the pick me dance.

For fuck sake I can't believe you have to ask here if that's it?! Of course it is.

Walk away ..... far far away.

AntiHop · 24/09/2019 08:50

It really is time to move on. Flowers

PragmaticWench · 24/09/2019 09:50

Why are you focusing on him and what he's up to OP? Really, why?!?!

YOU are important here and yet all of your focus is on him. It's time to put yourself first. It's irrelevant what he is doing, this relationship isn't making you happy and that is all that matters. Spend some time thinking about why you are prepared to ignore yourself.

ittakes2 · 24/09/2019 10:03

I the kindest possibly way I think you need to see a therapist to work out why you have such low expectations in a partner. You need to want more and better for yourself. And he is cheating - at least emotionally - sounds like the only reason its not physical is she has said no. Please get your head out of the sand - you sound lovely please want better than this.

DaisyD22 · 01/01/2020 18:04

Update on my situation.
For 3 months there was absolutely no contact between DP and this woman. I've been checking his phone and e-mail, nothing fishy there. I've stopped checking just before Christmas, we had a lovely time away and with his family.
Today he left his fb open and I looked when he was sleeping after last night celebrations. And boom, messages again. To this woman. Christmas wishes, New Years wishes. Her asking how he's keeping and him saying that we are just plodding along and not making any changes as busy with work.
He wrote that he will always love me but he is not happy as we are too different and he just finds it so hard to let it go as he still has feelings. Then they flirted again, sending each other work xmas do pictures and complementing each other(???). She also told him not to contact her when he is still with me as she doesn't want to be a fallback girl. But then they joked again and she sent him another saucy night out picture, which he said he 'loves'. What the heck? She clearly likes him. His response to her saying to stop contact was that 'you know I fancy you and care about you but I have had enough of relationships, if I cannot make it work with Daisy then I cannot make it work with anyone'.
What the hell is this all about? I feel broken, he is sleeping now and I am drinking wine and thinking about packing my suitcase and disappearing. We only bought a new expensive car and book a holiday for Easter...

OP posts:
user1481840227 · 01/01/2020 18:23

It's emotional cheating because he's getting that buzz from talking to her that people tend to get from members of the opposite sex when they're dating/seeing each other/have a soft spot for her.

Getting excited to text her about something, being excited when he gets her text, thinking of her through the day and waiting for a chance to text, looking at her pics, reminiscing and imagining them together, flirting, having an escape from his real life to think about this woman.
Of course it's emotional cheating.

user1481840227 · 01/01/2020 18:26

So sorry, I posted based on earlier posts and hadn't read your update!

You deserve so much better than him.

AlexaAmbidextra · 01/01/2020 18:47

Oh dear. For how much longer are you going to make excuses for him and put up with this? It’s been going on for months. How can you believe anything he says?

DaisyD22 · 01/01/2020 18:50

I just don't understand why he hasn't left yet. What keeps him here if he is unhappy.
We do have moments when things are great and generally get along. What keeps him in it? If not love then what?

OP posts:
ScreamingLadySutch · 01/01/2020 18:54

The other woman behaved very decently.

ScreamingLadySutch · 01/01/2020 18:59

Oops posted half a message

The other woman behaved very decently which is a nice change from OWs who get involved.

OP he stays because of sunk costs, same as you.

But its a half life and he is looking to get out. IF she wasn't so decent, he would be in there, don't kid yourself.

Good luck Daisy, being single isn't the terrible awful thing it is made out to be.
And you can be in a situation where you find someone who is financially, sexually, all the res,t compatible with you.

Ooof · 01/01/2020 19:02

He’s never going to leave because he knows you won’t leave him, despite all you know about him and this other woman.
Why would he leave a woman who earns more than him and can buy nice cars and holidays and seems to ignore the fact he is wanking over a woman he can’t stop texting...

snoopy18 · 01/01/2020 19:03

Better to be single than with someone like that especially since you’re not married and don’t have kids. End it whilst you can.

Windmillwhirl · 01/01/2020 19:05

It's scary contemplating a future without him, but the spark gas long gone.

You are not compatible and the end is inevitable. Sadly, I think you are afraid to cut the chord and will drag this out even further before you accept it's done.

Windmillwhirl · 01/01/2020 19:06

I also think he's with you for the lifestyle it allows him.

Guiltypleasures001 · 01/01/2020 19:08

I'm so sorry op

I truly believe he is treating you as the fall back girl, he can't be arsed with splitting up as it's a faff for him. Make the decision for the Pratt yourself,
He's staying because it's easier than the reality of leaving.

chinam · 01/01/2020 19:09

Why are you waiting for him to finish things? You finish it. Better to be on your own for a while than be with someone you know doesn't want you.

DrivingMsCrazy · 01/01/2020 19:13

Your first post on this thread was August and it's still dragging on ... please please please summon up the last of your self respect and finish this excuse of a relationship.

Talkingmouse · 01/01/2020 19:14

Irrespective of his messages the relationship doesn’t sound right for you both. Take control, leave him and move on with your life. If not ready to do that then at least stop drifting and confront him. Good luck.

willowmelangell · 01/01/2020 19:16

Call it a day OP. He has one foot out the door and one eye on his future. He can't/won't give her up. Just let him go and keep your self respect. You have both tried.

If she had given him solid encouragement I suspect he might have made the decision for you.
Good luck x

OxfordCat · 01/01/2020 19:21

I just don't understand why he hasn't left yet.

The question is, why the hell haven't YOU left yet OP? Sorry, tough love time- you have been posting the same stuff since August and nothing's changed.

He has literally no incentive to leave- he spends your house-buy savings and knows you'll never leave. Why do you think so little of yourself that you deserve this? You don't even have kids. Life is for the living OP. No relationship should be this hard. I think you should read about co-dependency and get some therapy for yourself so that the next relationship you embark on is healthy. And leave.

If you do what you've always done you get what you've always got.

SunshineCake · 01/01/2020 19:22

What do you want from this thread as you are being very defensive?

RLEOM · 01/01/2020 19:26

Ew, he's a creep. So sorry you're going through this, OP. Please get rid and never look back.

BorissGiantJohnson · 01/01/2020 19:33

You are 35. You haven't got time to sit there month after month after month wondering why he's trying to get a shag out of some woman. Who cares why! It's not good enough. Do not waste your time and your fertility on this man. He will not be faithful to you in the long run, the only reason he hasn't shagged her yet is that she hasn't let him. If she'd have given him the green light he'd have been like a rat up a drainpipe. Leave. This is going nowhere.

Namechange8471 · 01/01/2020 19:42

Op you’re driving everyone fucking crazy!!
He clearly fancies the arse off this woman and will drop you like a sack of shit if she gives him the chance!

You’re 35 years old for gods sake, grow up and get rid.

Or just continue as you are, being second best to someone else. Don’t be surprised when he eventually fucks you off!!

*apologies for language but this thread/poster is infuriating.