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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

How do we fix this?

144 replies

roses910 · 01/01/2022 17:42

So I started seeing my bf in May this year and it was great for about 2 and a half months. He had briefly told me about this girl (we'll call her Jessica) when we first started, I was fine okay with it because everytime he mentioned her, he kept saying they met a while back and nothing happened, they're just good friends. My definition of "a while back" is about 6-8 months ago but his is about 2 months ago. June came round and it's my bf's birthday and he tells me Jessica sent him a flirty comment and he tells her that his gf wouldn't appreciate that; this is when Jessica finds out about me. All this time I knew about Jessica but Jessica didn't even know my bf was dating let alone in a relationship with me. My bf is confused but lets it slide because she doesn't want to talk about it. July comes round and my bf reminds me that Jessica is coming to our town to see him and I'm surprised because I completely forgotten that he had briefly mentioned it the start of June and I thought they left it on a weird note, I tell him this but I'm like I trust you. I go on a trip out of town with my family and she visits on the days I'm out of town. He posts pictures and videos of them at an underground romantic italian restaurant that I had taken him on his birthday because he had never been there before, he had never posted me on his story, all of this made me upset. I tell him about my discomfort the next evening and I thought he invited his friend to hang out with them to ease my discomfort but this was later told to me to change up the environment for Jessica because my bf felt distant from her. Jessica leaves and I'm back from my trip. I have a dream where my bf is cheating on me with Jessica and there's a bouquet of sunflowers and roses in there. Ever since this dream, I have very bad discomfort with my bf and Jessica's friendship. I learn more and more about their relationship, how they were recent, nothing physical happened between them but they did have feelings for each other at one point. After a month and a half of breakdowns, I'm done, I feel like I've been piecing together a lot of things instead of just being told from the start the whole story about my bf and Jessica so after a lot of convincing, I tell my bf to go talk to her. And that's when he even finds out that she still had feelings for him and he ends their friendship. (He now understands my point of view on this and how it was an emotional affair, we both agree that it's a level of cheating)

Skip forward to November, I'm still hurt by my bf dismissing my feelings as just jealousy and not doing anything to ease my discomfort, he didn't think I should know that Jessica didn't know about me, he didn't do everything to not go to that italian restaurant, and some of the stuff he was saying didn't add up, so I told him I was going to talk to Jessica and he was supportive. I talked to Jessica and found out that even though they agreed to just be friends and nothing more in April, she still flirted with my bf here and there. Our conversation ended on a sour note and she had sent screenshots of the conversation to my bf (even though I had already sent him them). Jessica reaches out to my bf's best friend because they're friends and she tells her she doesn't want her name mentioned around my bf or me and that we're blocked.

I told my bf that I don't feel comfortable being friends with his best friend or being around her because she's friends with Jessica therefore her loyalties are with Jessica and I just want to remove every part of Jessica from me because a lot of things have been very triggering for me: the italian restaurant, the hotel she stayed, sunflowers, etc. My bf has told his best friend all about what's been going on and that easing my mind would ease his mind because he wants us all to comfortable and be able to hang out in group settings, but his best friend said that something similar has happened before with her friends and that cutting people off isn't the solution. Later on, Jessica removes his best friend from everything and his best friend tells him that she barely spoke to Jessica or reached out because Jessica's crazy. So I'm even more frustrated because she could've done something (cut off someone she doesn't care for) to ease her best friend and my discomfort but chose not to, even if it's a temporary relief.

We tried to break up and then he told me he was thinking of cutting off the friendship with his best friend for me but I told him I don't want him to do that nor do I want him to choose between me and her, I even said I'd take myself out of the equation because this is all too much. But he really wants to make it work. I've tried to set a boundary where I don't attend any event his best friend is at (his birthday, christmas parties etc) but at the same time I feel like I'm left out if all his friends are there with his best friend but not me. His best friend and his other friends have been friends for a long time so I don't think it's sustainable for me to be distant to her but still be friends with his friends. My bf is still confused on why I feel upset and how to go about handling these events even though I've voiced everything and repeated myself a dozen times. He really wants things to work but I feel like I've given him so many chances to him, he's weakened my trust for him so much that I have to set so many boundaries because I don't trust him to make me feel comfortable. How can we fix this?

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 01/01/2022 17:46

Why on earth would you want to fix this? Everything about this relationship is absurd and juvenile. Get rid of this untrustworthy tosser and find a real adult to have a proper relationship with. You've wasted enough time already.

Sparklesocks · 01/01/2022 17:46

It seems like a lot of work for a relationship that has only been going for 7 months? Not to sound harsh - but you should still be in the breezy/fun stages, not agonising over potential cheating and cutting off friendships

MrzClaus · 01/01/2022 17:47

This sounds like a lot of drama for such a short relationship - is it really worth this much effort from you?

Aquamarine1029 · 01/01/2022 17:50

You actually want to stay with a man you know you can't trust. It's madness.

Twinkleylight · 01/01/2022 17:51

It all sounds very teenage, high school relationship tbh, not what's expected from mature adults. Dump and run.

Vapeyvapevape · 01/01/2022 17:51

This is too complicated for a new relationship, I skim read your post as it’s soo long but everything seems way too intense .

I’d call it a day if I were you.

DrierThanANunsNasty · 01/01/2022 17:53

Seems way too much drama for such a short relationship. I’d put him in the bin, sorry OP.

Nomilkinmycoffeeplease · 01/01/2022 17:55

The only way to fix this is to leave this all behind. He is clearly very involved in her or finds it hard to get rid of her is he is very possessive, so not looking good for the future really.

roses910 · 01/01/2022 17:55

My bf doesn't have a lot of experience while I do and a lot of this has been in hindsight for both of us like I shouldn't have trusted him so easily because he seemed like a great guy and I should've questioned him more from the beginning and he should've explained more and been more clear from the start instead of me piecing things together. He has been learning a lot in this relationship and he really wants us to work. I am happy with him but all this drama has really weakened my trust for him and I don't know what boundary to make with his best friend that is reasonable and doesn't create discomfort for me.

OP posts:
AlDanvers · 01/01/2022 17:56

Probably irrelevant but I don't understand what's going on with the sunflowers?

I agree with pp. Not sure why you would want to fix this.

It was exhausting to just read.

Aquamarine1029 · 01/01/2022 17:58

You can't be that "experienced" if you're willing to put up with this bullshit for even one minute. A adult with self-respect and proper boundaries would have tossed this lying shitbag in the bin months ago. Come on, stop dithering and end it.

Puffalicious · 01/01/2022 17:59

Are you all 12? It sounds like it. Ridiculous control and over-rought hand-wringing from you. I've always stood by the mantra- If someone wants to be with you, they'll be with you. Be unavailable at times and concentrate on having a great life for yourself: happy, content people attract the relationship they need.

EnjoyingTheSilence · 01/01/2022 17:59

Couldn’t read to the end. Just too much.

It’s a short relationship, no intertwined finances, no children, it’s not working, just end it and get on with your life. Ditch the drama

girlmom21 · 01/01/2022 18:00

That was really exhausting to read, I can't imagine what it's like to live through. Don't waste any more time and energy.

roses910 · 01/01/2022 18:00

I'm 22 and he's 27. Jessica is out of our lives for good. I just wish I didn't have to tell him every single thing that would make me feel comfortable like deleting her number and blocking her off of social media.

OP posts:
ellyoctober · 01/01/2022 18:00

What's the sunflower relevance?

Puffalicious · 01/01/2022 18:01

Relationships are supposed to make all involved happy. Move on FGS, you're both as bad as each other.

PS please read over your posts, they're so hard to read.

Tittyfilarious81 · 01/01/2022 18:03

@roses910 there's been many threads on mumsnet where there is a friend that is a woman and behaves inappropriately with a posters partner and It causes no end of upset and heartache . I think it may be best to let this relationship go as it's far too much hassle which I don't think will improve

roses910 · 01/01/2022 18:04

He hasn't lied at all in this. I shouldn't have trusted so easily at the start nor should I have tried to be okay with Jessica just because he seemed like a good guy who wants everything I want in life and wants a relationship with lots of communication (I know ironic because it all started with miscommunication from him)

OP posts:
girlmom21 · 01/01/2022 18:04

@roses910

I'm 22 and he's 27. Jessica is out of our lives for good. I just wish I didn't have to tell him every single thing that would make me feel comfortable like deleting her number and blocking her off of social media.
She's not though, is she? She's still taking up way too much headspace.

If a hotel and sunflowers are 'triggering' for you it's far from ok.

You also don't want him to choose between you and his best friend but refuse to go anywhere she is - so you're forcing him to choose.

You need to grow up.

Travis1 · 01/01/2022 18:06

Fuck me who could actually be arsed?!! I’m
Not at all surprised you are only 22. Get rid. It’s not all his decision. Move on with your life. There will be someone better for you.

roses910 · 01/01/2022 18:06

@AlDanvers @ellyoctober Sunflowers were in this bouquet that I was holding when I walked in on Jessica and my bf having sex in my dream

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 01/01/2022 18:07

[quote roses910]**@AlDanvers* @ellyoctober* Sunflowers were in this bouquet that I was holding when I walked in on Jessica and my bf having sex in my dream[/quote]
FFS. I've heard it all now. Op, you are extremely immature, I'm afraid.

Sparklesocks · 01/01/2022 18:07

[quote roses910]**@AlDanvers* @ellyoctober* Sunflowers were in this bouquet that I was holding when I walked in on Jessica and my bf having sex in my dream[/quote]
This is not how adults carry on

ellyoctober · 01/01/2022 18:09

[quote roses910]**@AlDanvers* @ellyoctober* Sunflowers were in this bouquet that I was holding when I walked in on Jessica and my bf having sex in my dream[/quote]
Gosh I can see why you're so upset.

Dream flowers