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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

Husband kissed friend

298 replies

Berghia · 29/11/2021 14:37

Sorry this is long.
I have name changed for obvious reasons but this isn't my first post.

Went out for drinks with husband and small group of friends. It's quite late, some have gone home and us remaining few are a bit drunk but not hammered.

Husband goes to bar with friend and they're gone ages. No longer at bar. I find them on dance floor talking so return to other friend and tell him. Something feels off so I go back and catch them as they're about to kiss. Feel like I'm in a soap opera.

I go home alone. Lots of angry phone call conversations with husband who wouldn't stop phoning me. Admitted they were about to kiss but kept saying that they'd not actually done anything. I said that was irrelevant as they would have if I'd not interrupted them. I tell him he needs to tell me now if anything has happened before or if anything did happen. He says no.

We talk a bit when I get home. I'm furious and tell him I'll never forgive him for the double betrayal and putting me in a position of risk in a city centre and having the nightmare of getting home alone when there were no taxis. I tell him I can't ever trust him.

In the morning I'm still angry in shock etc. He then tearfully admits they did in fact kiss.

Later we talk some more, I've calmed a bit and no longer want to move out. I tell him I need space so he stays out of my way, I go for a walk, visit my mum, message friends etc.

He's trying and is contrite and assures me he doesn't want her or for us to break up. We've talked about why he did it etc. I still feel like I'm missing some details but...

So now what do I do. I don't want to leave him but how does one go about moving on and getting past the lies. It's the lying I can't stand and the fact she was my friend. And that I was there. I'm meeting up with some friends this week to chat but I don't know what happens from here. If someone had suggested this would happen to us I'd have laughed. He's never given me reason to mistrust him. He's not perfect and neither am I. Our relationship was good, not perfect but pretty strong. I never imagined this could possibly happen. It's just blown my mind in the worst possible way.

If you made it to the end thanks so much.

OP posts:
Sittingonabench · 29/11/2021 17:53

This is sounding less like a drunken mistake now. She flirted last time so he had warnings. He has made himself available (alone at the bar) or worse followed her and then followed through. I have no idea why he did it while you were there but I suggest there’s more to this and he is more actively engaged in the flirting than he’s owning up to. If you want to work it through you need to know everything- not really so you know but because he has to tell you and be honest about root cause.

Whatabambam · 29/11/2021 17:55

I'm really sorry that you are in this situation OP. I don't think you can trust him; he's clearly a complete flirt who couldn't even reign it in despite you being there.

SheldonesqueTheBstard · 29/11/2021 17:56

and he did quite like her

And is OP supposed to be grateful that he quite liked the friend?

That’s ok then. It makes it all better eh?

What a knob.

Momijin · 29/11/2021 17:56

Wow. I can't believe they kissed on a dance floor when his wife and friends were about!!

ElectraBlue · 29/11/2021 18:00

This is really disrespectful: he kissed someone while you were in the same club! which pretty much means he did not much care about getting caught.

He then he tried to lie about it.

It is likely that he has been flirting with that 'friend' for a while.

Get rid.

Also disgusting behaviour from your friend. It is unlikely that both of them were so drunk to the extent that they did not know what they were doing. More likely that this has been going for a while and they got careless....

FatBettyintheCoop · 29/11/2021 18:01

My ex had an affair and there were a few times that ex and myself and OW plus her partner spent time together without either myself or her partner realising the devious bastards were having an affair. Apparently, they found it extra thrilling to have sneaky kisses and gropes right under our noses.

Obviously, your DH might have only kissed her this once and nothing more, but I felt incredibly stupid and so devastated when I found out it had been going on for months

When we split up, he didn’t move in with her and it just fizzled out. I think it was the clandestine thrill of the affair that they both loved rather than each other.

We split permanently and I’m with lovely DH now but I did go through hell for several months initially. However, you need to do what’s right for you.

Tarne · 29/11/2021 18:03

Unfortunately if you forgive him and you stay together he will think, wow! That was a close shave! But he can snigger behind your back and believe he got away with it.

So it’s really a question of whether you can deal with the humiliation. He has shown you he is fickle when he’s had a few too many. So this is how things are. It won’t be a one off because if you forgive him it gives him the blueprint of what you find acceptable.

Not only will you never be able to trust him again, it also means he was willing to risk it so he subconsciously wants out of your relationship even if he is too cowardly to tell you.

OneCuppaChar · 29/11/2021 18:07

Can I suggest you look up Esther Perel on Ted talks. She is a couples therapist and has some interesting thoughts about infidelity. Might help you process how you feel about it. It's very early days...

www.ted.com/talks/esther_perel_rethinking_infidelity_a_talk_for_anyone_who_has_ever_loved/up-next?language=en

IfOnlyIdHadMNThen · 29/11/2021 18:07

Something similar happened to me several years back (and weirdly I started a thread just last week saying how great it would have been to have MN back then to get advice)- I was starting to feel weird whenever my friend was around my husband but thought I must be going mad as surely she wouldn't be flirting with him. They then kissed after a group night out (although not in public), and then later progressed to a full blown affair.

I wouldn't put too much pressure on yourself to decide what you want, take your time and keep your expectations of him low. I would also find someone in real life who you can talk It all through with, don't worry about protecting his reputation in case you stay together, it's more important that you get the support needed to make the best decisions for what happens next for you.

Gilly12345 · 29/11/2021 18:07

Is the flirty woman single?

Are they having an affair?

Too much alcohol with flirty ‘friends’ is not good, definitely avoid again.

icelolly12 · 29/11/2021 18:10

Hmm, sorry but you don't just kiss a friend. There's deeper feelings there and now the can of worms has been opened.

ExpectingLady93 · 29/11/2021 18:10

@TheWomandestroyed

Do people really break up a 12 year marriage for a drunken snog ?
I would I think, to me that's a very intimate thing. Who knows where they slipped off to when DH was missing for ages according to OP. Somewhere quiet.... if they were drunk wtf else happened... wondering hands comes to mind. I feel so sorry for the OP.
tootootaataa · 29/11/2021 18:12

Sorry OP. There is so much more to this that he is telling you, is my feeling

lilly7221w · 29/11/2021 18:14

OP, lets imagine you are 20, full of youthful promise and excitement and he did this...what would you do?

Thats what you should do...(kick the fucker out and make it public knowledge)

It's a step away from shagging and you are worth more. Any women that snogs another's man, needs to be be shamed, so that everyone else knows how dangerous she is.

Roselilly36 · 29/11/2021 18:15

You must be so upset OP, what an awful situation to be in. Personally, it would be the end of my marriage & friendship, once the trust is gone, what’s left? But you need to do what’s right for you, it’s your marriage. Good luck Flowers

YuleHaveAWonderfulChristmas · 29/11/2021 18:17

I couldn't forgive this because even though he is seemingly now telling you the truth, you will never know. You will always be wondering the what ifs.

Misspacorabanne · 29/11/2021 18:17

Run for the hills op!!! He doesn't deserve you! She sounds a joke too! I'd have nothing more to do with either of them!
So they kissed then agreed that they shouldn't be doing this, but then went in to kiss again? So disrespectful! I don't think it's the first time op.
Your friend screams guilty conscience, any friend who had made a genuine drunken mistake would be begging for forgiveness. Cut them both out of your life and move on. You deserve better!

user7377378283 · 29/11/2021 18:18

It’s really better to be alone than with a disrespectful shitty man

Phobiaphobic · 29/11/2021 18:21

Well, one thing's certain. This woman is NOT your friend.

Heepers · 29/11/2021 18:23

@Justcannotbearsed

You know, people make mistakes, they do stupid things especially when drunk. If you generally trust him, think he's OK and was just a bit stupid then work on how you can get over it.

But you both need to work on it - you can't stew on it and let him have it everytime he forgets to put the bins out. And he can't just go 'soz - my bad' and expect you to think it's all fine.

But yes, people do stupid stuff.

I agree and I personally wouldn't end my marriage over a drunken kiss. I actually know someone who had a similar experience and they have made it work BUT did acknowledge that it was indicative of wider problems in the relationship.
Heepers · 29/11/2021 18:23

@Justcannotbearsed

You know, people make mistakes, they do stupid things especially when drunk. If you generally trust him, think he's OK and was just a bit stupid then work on how you can get over it.

But you both need to work on it - you can't stew on it and let him have it everytime he forgets to put the bins out. And he can't just go 'soz - my bad' and expect you to think it's all fine.

But yes, people do stupid stuff.

I agree and I personally wouldn't end my marriage over a drunken kiss. I actually know someone who had a similar experience and they have made it work BUT did acknowledge that it was indicative of wider problems in the relationship.
lockdownalli · 29/11/2021 18:24

I couldn't get over this. I am not sure you will get what you want/need from this thread OP.

Do you have anyone you can discuss it with in RL. It's better to make it "real" by telling someone you can trust.

If you want to continue to live with a man who kisses other women and who you cannot trust, that is absolutely your choice to make. Flowers

Justilou1 · 29/11/2021 18:24

Sounds like this woman has a lot invested in gaining self esteem by feeling “better than” other women by stealing their men. What a way to live. Relationship vampire. Sounds like your DH was up for it though. He’s been flirting with her and was waiting for the kiss. Now he’s wanting to move on. Prize pair. Tell everyone what great humans they aren’t.

Foolsrule · 29/11/2021 18:25

To my mind, it’s pretty brazen kissing when you’re nearby! They must have known there was a chance they’d be caught. Maybe that’s what they wanted…

Babymamamama · 29/11/2021 18:27

Step out of this relationship and let them crack on with it. The trust is broken.