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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

Please help so confused and very vulnerable

216 replies

sheryl77 · 06/11/2019 13:15

Complicated situation, but I have no idea about a guy I dated for about six months. He’s basically a friend of the family and someone I work with, so it’s complicated in that I have to see him again.

It was kind of a mutual split, I felt he wasn’t feeling it anymore and we spoke and outlined both of our reasons for not wanting to continue. Basically, it’s to do with family ties and I am going through a divorce. We said we’d remain friends and he’s been in touch most days since we split about two months ago. He contacts me as soon as he wakes up and then throughout the day. We talk about work, life, etc and he’s still very flirtatious.

Went to a party a couple of weeks ago and he told my friend he was ‘waiting for reassurance’ for me to move things forward. He asked me if I was dating anyone last week via text and I didn’t respond directly.

Last contact was last Friday, usual convo and making jokes. I didn’t hear from him for a couple of days which isn’t usual so then send him a text to which he replied he’s doing well and in America for a few days. I responded to tell him a couple of places he should visit whilst there and he hasn’t responded! I get I’m not his girlfriend, but I just think it’s disrespectful to ignore my texts (can see he has been online).

My family and his friends say he’s a good guy and last week he was telling me is feels lucky to be in my life and he’s told me a few weeks ago that he’s finding it hard to let me go and I made an ‘impact on his life’.

Is he starting to let me go now?

What should I do if he reaches out again? I can’t block him as don’t have the heart and need to maintain some civility as hes a friend of the family and I am his client. Yet, I don’t want someone messing about with my feelings as I am very vulnerable right now ☹

I don’t want to be at someone’s beck and call, but I just don’t know what hes thinking or how to react now.

Really appreciate some soft words and not harsh words as suffering from depression.

OP posts:
readitandwept · 07/11/2019 20:25

You've posted about this guy numerous times. You and him started an affair. You are a prime example of how that rarely ends well.

Yet you keep trying to convince yourself and us that he actual feels something for you. You're delusional.

Get some self respect and get you and your son through your divorce and out the other side before even contemplating a relationship with anyone.

sheryl77 · 07/11/2019 20:35

I’ve only posted once. I’m not delusional. If you see in my previous posts I said he had no feelings for me so don’t know how I’m delusional but thanks for making me feel worse.

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 07/11/2019 20:35

Oh dear, that changes things,,

sheryl77 · 07/11/2019 20:36

@Bluntness100 what changes? Appreciate your comments here

OP posts:
sheryl77 · 07/11/2019 20:38

@rvby - why would someone pretend to pine? I just don’t get it. What does he have to gain in Kyiv to me? It’s not an ego boost to pretend you feel something when you don’t!

Again I am not saying he has feelings for me just don’t know why someone would say things that don’t mean a thing.

OP posts:
sheryl77 · 07/11/2019 20:41

@readitandwept - It isn’t really an affair is it? I left my husband and starting seeing him thereafter.

OP posts:
Fizzysours · 07/11/2019 20:43

Honestly OP I would be extremely wary. I agree that hr wants his ego boosted....he wants you to 'open up' in one way only...to tell him how much you like him...he is not necessarily open or loving himself...DO NOT make the mistake of thinking that this kind of pressure means he is. It more likely means he is very manipulative and vain. It is no reflection on you...you sound lovely and genuine...another reason for him to try to manipulate you to boost his ego. Try to take care of yourself while you feel wobbly. Unfortunately this very likely includes NOT talking to this utter game player. Yep they really do exist and they very often get an extra buzz out of 'forbidden fruit' (eg their best mates' sister)

Chattybum · 07/11/2019 20:44

You are putting a lot of stock on what someone apparently said. Drop the fixation with that and go on the FACTS that you KNOW.

readitandwept · 07/11/2019 20:46

Well you said yourself in a previous post that it was an affair. Apologies if this is a different tosser you've posted about, but you seem to have had an awful lot going on in the relationship department over the last year or so

sheryl77 · 07/11/2019 20:48

@Fizzysours Interestingly, he did call me ‘forbidden fruit’ FFS.
He said he felt bad each time he saw my brother but yet he was happy to ask me to want to come him with me in my brothers flat at a party two weeks ago!
I feel utterly mortified.
I’m an intelligent woman, great career, attractive with so much going for her and I got sucked in my this guy. I’m not arrogant in the slightest but when she met this guy she was like ‘really’!? You are selling yourself short!

OP posts:
sheryl77 · 07/11/2019 20:50

The fact I know is that he’s been online on WhatsApp on and off and ignored my text from Monday and now responding today now he’s back in the UK!! Saying he’s been ‘manic’ on holiday...Right ok...

OP posts:
sheryl77 · 07/11/2019 20:52

Genuinely feeling a bit sick.

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 07/11/2019 20:53

Actually just read your other threads, I think you post about two different men?

Anyway your last thread on this guy indicates what I thought. The "relationship" ran its course. You wanted more and fell in love and He did not feel the same. And now your hurt he didn't fall for you. He's done nothing wrong.

Leave your brother out of this. You use him like a threat, like a child who wants to tell daddy,

He's clearly trying to remain friendly with you. If you don't want occasional fwb don't go there. But I do think you need to get a grip. As said, not every relationship ends in marriage and the honey moon period ends quickly.

It's time for you to grow up and accept this relationship is not meant to be, you had some fun but that's it. However I stress again, he's not made you false promises, he's not done anything wrong. The root cause of this issue is you're royally hurt he doesn't wish to be with you in that way.

Let it go now.

sheryl77 · 07/11/2019 20:54

He said when we split it was ‘a road he shouldn’t have gone down’ yet he continually still flirts with me so clearly he still wants to go down that road! Wow. I’m staying away from men, seriously. Been so stupid.

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 07/11/2019 20:57

Op, let it go.

You're in your forties, If you're not up for occasional fwb and something light that's fine, he didn't promise you anything else and he likely didn't know about your poor mental health.

Let it go now. Stop grasping at straws that he secretly is in love with you.

For your sake let it go.

Fizzysours · 07/11/2019 20:58

Don't assume all men are like this. This one ABSOLUTELY SCREAMS 'player' to me. And we all get played by a twat like this at least once OP. But you need to take control and block him. Or you will not feel better. Explain why before you do it, if you like, but bear in mind his ego will absolutely love it. I would just say I was focusing on my son or career and 'wouldn't be online so much but hope to see him soon at some event'. Then lick your wounds, see girl friends, eat ice cream, have fun with your kid, SCREW HIM

Bluntness100 · 07/11/2019 21:00

I must be missing something, how does it scream player? He's been in long term relationships. Made it clear to the op they couldn't date and was clear this was just casual. How is that a player?

sheryl77 · 07/11/2019 21:02

@Bluntness100 - Two different men, same situation. I think I felt he felt something for me and what he saying ie ‘fate us meeting’ ‘destiny’ ‘let’s see what happens’ and if we keep seeing each other feelings would develop I thought we were in the same page. I guess I feel a bit misled.

Why say those things and not mean them?

Bottom line, I guess I don’t feel loveable. My ex mentally and physically abused me and it’s left a lot of scars and I wanted someone to love me. He didn’t, but then he didn’t give it a chance. We only met a handful of times and last time we met he was saying the age difference doesn’t matter and he’s ‘living his best life’. I took it all in.

I’m letting it go. I just hope I’m strong enough not to text back. If I want more and he doesn’t there’s no point but then I can’t have anymore now as I’m not in the right place.

I did tell him I wasn’t looking for a relationship form day one so I guess I can only blame myself as well.

OP posts:
Fizzysours · 07/11/2019 21:03

Constantly pushing her to open up. Constantly hinting he wants to take it further but fate is holding them back. Sounds like prize headfuckery to me.

sheryl77 · 07/11/2019 21:04

@Bluntness100 I don’t think he’s secretly in love with me. Far from it :-)

OP posts:
sheryl77 · 07/11/2019 21:06

@Fizzysours - I won’t block him on WhatsApp or Facebook as that just makes him know even more he had a massive impact on my life which I don’t want him thinking even more so!

OP posts:
Fizzysours · 07/11/2019 21:07

I think that's possibly because he's in love with himself. This guy is NOT worth the level of upset. Constant texts from him will totally screw with your head.

AFairlyHardAvocado · 07/11/2019 21:08

OP with all due respect - knowing when he's been on WhatsApp, mulling over the subtext of messages, romanticising forbidden love... aren't you just tired of all the bullshit?!

You're an adult and this is over. I'm not trying to be a dick but feel like you need a short sharp shock to step back from the situation and realise how utterly awful ridiculous it is!

You're wasting SO much headspace on someone it didn't work out with.

It didn't work out. You aren't together. You aren't going to be together. That's it. It's been a complicated ride, maybe, but it's simple now.

All the time you're going over and over every encounter in your head, you're delaying moving on with your life.

Draw a line under it - it's done now!

AFairlyHardAvocado · 07/11/2019 21:09

Why say those things and not mean them?

Harsh but true, so you'd keep shagging him. He's a cunt and I'm sure very convincing but now you've seen the truth don't continue being part of this game. Move on Thanks

sheryl77 · 07/11/2019 21:10

@Bluntness100 I think he said things that indicated more after we first slept together...he said ‘Let’s see what happens’ when we first had sex. He spoke about us continuing and said feelings wills develop so he knew the risk. Fate/ destiny etc doesn’t really indicate just casual, does it? Unless again I’m reading more into it. Sending me love hearts and saying it’s ‘maybe for me’ ... this is not FWB behaviour, is it?

When we first starting talking he knew I wasn’t in a good place as I told him

OP posts: