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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

FWB and good friend situation, WWYD?

74 replies

Lilylilyroserose · 24/10/2019 01:16

Firstly, no judgement of my situation please, I'm looking for advice. Thanks.
name change/long time lurker
background;
I'm in a sexless marriage.
DH can't/won't have sex. Have got children but last time we had sex was when my DD 8 was conceived.
I miss sex, DH is happy.
So I have a FWB, DH has agreed he's happy for this, but I am very private, it's never discussed, and children don't know.
So I met a FWB and started a relationship. (4 years) We have been close friends over this time.
FWB knows that it's a private matter and I don't discuss the arrangement with anyone else.
It was great initially but over time FWB has turned out to be a major major manipulator. (won't go into details, but giving me less and less and gradually demoting me to giving me crumbs as he knew I was hooked. I know this is pathetic. )
So I have been distancing myself and building up to blocking him but it really hurts as I'm hooked. But I'm getting there. (thanks to advice on mumsnet reading other threads, Ive realised I need to get rid, although not as easy as it sounds.)
Now , I have a newish friend who has moved in near me. She is new to the area. She is great for me, same age (45) 3 kids, newly single, and we have been going out together it's been great.
So Sunday night we went for a drink in the local bar. In the past my FWB would come in and then come to mine after, it was our routine. (DC with DH)
This night, FWB turns up and then makes a bee line for my friend (she has never met him before) and starts to really really chat her up.
She falls for it all and gives him her number.
He leaves trying to take her with him. (she didn't she's got more sense than me)
I felt completely and utterly humiliated. But managed to hold it together. he was very drunk but probably enjoyed humiliating me.
I sent him a few heated texts that night, then
I sent him a calm message the next day saying it's finally over, then blocked him everywhere. (never mentioned my friend or humiliation, tried to take the higher ground)
I feel so humiliated but it feels like the slap in the face I needed, to block him, and obviously it's for the best. but it still hurts.
I saw my friend today and she told me that he has been texting her. She asked me what is he like. (she was laughing about it )
I really didn't know what to say, but I just said that he had a reputation for having a few girlfriends, but I couldn't say more than that.
Obviously I am shocked and devastated that he could treat me like that, we have been close over the time we have been FWB, its been 4 years in total and Ive helped him through some difficult times.
So WWYD?
No one apart from FWB knows about the FWB thing between us.
Do I say nothing and let my friend get on with it and let it run it's course, (of couse it will be painful for me as i will have to witness it, he's good looking and very charming esp at first!!) (and horrible to have him rubbing my face in it)
Of course She may see through him, but she is a bit vulnerable herself and is on the rebound.
Or do I tell her about my FWB arrangement with him, and how he treated me the other night so she has some facts, which will be awkward for me to do, i'm so so private and she's a new friend. (She may still decide she wants to see him anyway I know thats her choice)
If I tell her, although I trust her, I can't guarantee she won't mention my situation to other people, which is unfair on my husband and children,
If I say nothing he gets to skip around treating me and then quite probably her like shit. He doesn't know i've blocked him and probably thinks he can juggle us both.
He's screwed my head up so good and proper I can't even tell you what advice I'd give my own daughter, if she told me this pathetic story.
I will have to see him as we are in a smallish area, and now he's latching onto my friend he will be everywhere we go.

WWYD?

OP posts:
Soconfusedandlost · 24/10/2019 06:01

So in 4 years he's never had a girlfriend?

I think his behaviour was wrong on the night but I agree that he can see someone he fancies and try to strike something up as he can't only ever be your FWB while you're married.

I don't know his other behaviour being manipulative but I don't think you should get involved between him and your friend as it sounds like you're jealous that he wants something more with someone else even though you're not in a position to offer him that

Lilylilyroserose · 24/10/2019 07:13

Thanks for your message, that's really helpful.
Yes i am jealous that he chatted her up in front of me, and that he may go onto have a relationship with her. Even if it's a fwb type relationship, I can't help feeling jealous about it.

OP posts:
Lilylilyroserose · 24/10/2019 07:17

I honestly believe he will treat her badly but I guess I need to let her work that out. thanks for your advice,

OP posts:
toomuchfaster · 24/10/2019 07:25

I don't think he was a FWB, you've been emotionally involved with him. Regardless of the situation with your DH, IMO you have fallen for this guy and him for you, and now it's a break up but because it's all secret the pair of you can't show or talk about any of it to anyone. A true FWB has no emotional tie and you would wave him off happily to his potential future. There is nothing to tell her, he has not humiliated you, only treated you as one would an ex.

Lilylilyroserose · 24/10/2019 07:29

Yes you are right I have become emotionally involved.

OP posts:
Lilylilyroserose · 24/10/2019 07:33

And in a sense it's a relief for me now he is blocked, I can move on. And I understand he can move on with who he wants, it's just hurtful it's with my friend. But good advice thank you x

OP posts:
Waxonwaxoff0 · 24/10/2019 07:41

I would seriously think in the future if a FWB is right for you. If you can't have regular sex with someone without developing feelings then it could all get very messy.

As painful as it is, you are married and your FWB has no loyalties to you - he is free to do what he wants. He may want a proper relationship in the future and that's something you can't offer him. He certainly didn't go the right way about it and it's insensitive of him to chat up your friend but I'd keep out of it. If he's really awful then she'll find out eventually.

Miniloso · 24/10/2019 07:49

Given your situation you can’t really say anything to your friend - you will regret it and your OH and children fo not deserve your relationship with FWB to be potentially public.

You just need to get over him, it’s going to feel like a break-up but you will get over it. Your friend may or may not find out what he can be like but that’s not your concern.

Start today a fresh day and be go to yourself, distract yourself and slowly you will get over the humiliation and the ensuing of your arrangement with him.

NurseButtercup · 24/10/2019 07:50

Hmmm I dunno about this, I'm not judging you about having a Fwb. I'm looking at this from your friends point if view. If she decides to hook up with him and "accidentally" he lets it slip that you two were Fwb I think your friend will no longer want to be friends.

I don't have the answers of what you should do. I'm sorry you're in this situation - your ex Fwb is a shit for pursuing your friend.

Miniloso · 24/10/2019 07:51

Sorry, be good to yourself.
You will get over the ending ..
bloody spell check

Lilylilyroserose · 24/10/2019 07:55

Sorry but I'm crying now at your kind responses.
It's such a relief to have some kind advice and thanks for not judging.
Yes it's hurting and very painful it's my friend.

OP posts:
Loopytiles · 24/10/2019 07:57

He wasn’t a friend - FWB is not about emotional drama.

It was nasty of him to pursue your friend literally in front of you.

No contact at all with him would be best.

I would tell your new friend about it, then leave her to make her own choices. If she’s sensible she’ll run a mile from someone who would behave as he did towards an ex on the night she met him.

Loopytiles · 24/10/2019 07:58

Given your emotional involvement FWB doesn’t seem a good solution - a better alternative would be becoming single and dating.

Loopytiles · 24/10/2019 07:58

Just not him!

sofato5miles · 24/10/2019 08:01

What. An. Arsehole.

He is toying with you. Keep him blocked. How very mean of him.

CodenameVillanelle · 24/10/2019 08:05

I think you need to tell your friend, sorry

Lilylilyroserose · 24/10/2019 08:08

Yes he's toying with me, he's a skilled operator. I didn't think he would ever pursue my friend in front of me though. He will expect to try it on with her then pick me back up at a later date.

OP posts:
Lilylilyroserose · 24/10/2019 08:09

He is blocked!!

OP posts:
Lilylilyroserose · 24/10/2019 08:12

My friend is sensible and much more worldly wise than me. If I told her I think she'd run a mile.

OP posts:
Lilylilyroserose · 24/10/2019 08:13

But obviously I don't want to tell her for the wrong reasons ie my jealousy and hurt.

OP posts:
MajesticWhine · 24/10/2019 08:26

This is tricky. I think i would want to tell he friend I had been involved with him, (no detail needed) but also don't assume it will be a bad relationship for her. Their path might be very different to yours. If she is single she has something different to offer. In any case he may not actually be interested and was just trying to make you jealous. You have don't the right thing in blocking him.

Chocolate123 · 24/10/2019 08:26

I think you should stay out of it with your friend. In all fairness you are still with your husband and it was a FWB situation so he's entitled to chat up whoever he wants to. It's not as if you are going to progress together as you are married. You've done the right thing to block and try now work on yourself.

JacquesHammer · 24/10/2019 08:37

If you’re feeling jealous it isn’t working as a FWB.

I think you’re vulnerable and he’s exploiting you which isn’t what FWB is about. The very “title” is FRIENDS with benefits. He isn’t treating you with respect as you would a friend.

Doje · 24/10/2019 08:40

Could you not tell her about the way he treated a 'friend' of yours as a warning.

Then step back and ignore. The likelihood is that he's only doing this to get a reaction from you. Don't give him a reaction and he'll probably move on from your friend.

Lilylilyroserose · 24/10/2019 08:47

Majesticwhine
Thanks, yes I don't know how it will progress with her, you are right.

Jaqueshammer
Yes I'm vulnerable you are right and he does use it.

Doje
That's a good idea re 'the friend'
I just wonder if she got involved with him they might have a convo about it and then he'd tell her I was his crazy obsessive ex?
Perhaps I'm overthinking!!

OP posts: