It's a pickle of my own making and I feel like I've been a bit of a twat.
I split up with my boyfriend about 3 months ago and, about 3 weeks later, I stupidly signed up to pof. I did it mainly to prove to myself I wasn't missing out on anything and that my decision to remain single from now on was the right one.
Anyway, a guy messaged me and we got talking and met up. I'd had a test since splitting with my bf and had no other bubble, so we bubbled.
We've seen each other several times over the past couple of months. I've stopped over a few times and he's invited me to Christmas dinner. He's talked about me meeting his friends etc. It all seemed pretty harmless and nice enough.
But last week, I bumped into my ex. It made me realise that I'm not over him or actually interested in this man at all and he was just a distraction really. I'm not one for messing people about and I need to end it. It's not fair and I don't want to fake an interest in someone for the sake of it. Besides, he's said a few things that mean I wouldn't want to be with him long term. Neither would I want to be with someone if they were having these thoughts about an ex/me.
I need to break it off with him. Part of me thinks that I should do it now otherwise I'm going to be making excuses not to see him over christmas. He already invited me over to dinner this evening and I just pretended i hadn't seen the message until it was too late 
My friends say I can't dump him him just before christmas. I've never done this before. And I don't know what to do for the best. Or what to say to him.
We get on really well and there is a spark so pretending it's something to do with that would be weird.
Any suggestions?