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Relationships

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He drunk called his ex.

123 replies

ThatPearlOP · 18/02/2024 15:02

My boyfriend and I have lived together for a year and a half or so, and been together for nearly three. We are perfect together. Everybody is envious of our near perfect relationship, we are genuinely the best of friends. He is the best person I have ever met.

My family and friends adore him, his family and friends adore me, and it’s genuinely felt like we’re in the honeymoon phase for the entire time we’ve been together.

Since moving in together we have had much less sex than usual. Normal I thought, and doesn’t bother me because I don’t have the highest sex drive anyway. I’m also not the most confident in bed so he does tend to take a lead every single time which, I know, is not ideal, and I could definitely improve this area.

On Friday night he went out with his friends, and Saturday morning I had plans with my friends, so we barely saw one another. He was asleep so I put a glass of water on his table, kissed him goodbye and left.

While I was with my friends I received a message from an Instagram user that I did not know. The message was from my partners ex-girlfriend….. he had called her at 2am.

I immediately messaged him, and he said he was so sorry, he had gone to ring one of his friends, he was drunk / couldn’t see who he was calling and it was a mistake. I trust him, and I said we could talk about it when I get home in the evening.

Fast forward to Saturday evening, I get home and he’s out again. I tell him I need to see him, I need to talk to him about what happended, and asked him to please come home at a reasonable hour so we can talk it out. He didn’t. I picked him up at 4:00am, where he was just wandering the streets, alone.

In the morning he tells me he’s not happy at all in life, he needs to find himself again, doesn’t like that we spend 24/7 together, and he needs to find his own ‘spark’ / happiness to see if we can come back together, so basically, he wants to break-up.

I asked if he means to ‘take a break’ or to actually break-up. He says break-up, but he wants to see how he feels in a weeks time.

He kept repeating that he loves me, I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to him, that he ‘wishes’ it could work. He says it’s nothing I’ve done and kept apologising and apologising for ‘hurting me’.

Although very teary, I was super calm about it, told him he needs to do what he needs to do and it’s ok that he is putting himself first.

We have so much planned over the next 2 weeks - 3 concerts (with his family) and a holiday. The concerts are all musicians I adore so frankly, I don’t want to take a step back and let just him go - I paid for the holiday, too, as his birthday present. So I’m not sitting that out either.

He’s gone for a walk now, but he’ll be back later.

He will be sleeping in the spare room but we will be living in the same house. He has nowhere to go other than his mum’s sofa. My mum said I should just tell him to sleep at his mum’s on the sofa, but I don’t have it in me.

I’m really really anxious about him not being around, I’m absolutely not strong enough for that.

How do I handle this now? I am obviously absolutely devastated but I’m subconsciously just thinking about how everything will be fine, we’ll get back together, we’re soulmates, yadda yadda yadda. But what if we don’t? How would you navigate this situation? I’m lost.

Thank you for reading.

OP posts:
IncompleteSenten · 18/02/2024 15:06

He wants a couple of weeks to see if his ex will take him back.
If she won't then he wants to be able to come back to you, his back up plan.

What would I do? Id tell him he clearly thinks I'm a moron if he thinks I don't know exactly what he's after and not to bother with his soul searching because you've done yours and your search turned up a note saying fuck off.

Celynfour · 18/02/2024 15:08

With absolute kindness , you are not near perfect together .
He is telling you he wants to breakup .
Who knows how that will play out but you must protect your own well-being . Take friends to the concerts , your mum on the holiday . Get a friend to come and stay for a few nights .
Find the strategies to help you be strong enough. He is telling you clearly that he is not sure he wants to be with you . The more you lean in , the faster he will lean out . He will not offer you emotional support .

AhBiscuits · 18/02/2024 15:11

Throw him out. Don't go to the concerts or the holiday.
He wants to break up. You might limp on for a little bit longer but this relationship is circling the drain.

Lampzade · 18/02/2024 15:12

Take back some control. Tell him to go to his mum’s home because you need time to think.
Op, you come across as very clingy. He is telling you that he doesn’t want to be with you. listen to him

EighteenBaldingStars · 18/02/2024 15:14

I'm so sorry op! You sound so devastated 😔

I think he doesn't want to stay in the relationship and has told you as much. I don't agree that he definitely wants to get back with his ex, but maybe he called her as a way out of your relationship.

People can make strange choices in love and sometimes perfect on paper isn't what people want.

I'd ask him to move out even if it's to his mum's. He's told you he wants to break up in those exact words. You do not need to house him Flowers

Loubelle70 · 18/02/2024 15:17

Hes trying to get out of the difficult conversation about his ex, solely.
Thinks he can drop off end earth for a week and youll miss him so much that no questions will be asked.
Tell him oc you can have a break, also tell him that you can both then address this ringing the ex up... or tbh don't bother, just agree and pack his bags, be cordial and nice about it (he will be wtf?!!)...then tell him to fibd somewhere else now.
He definitely rung her fgs. Hes trying to hoodwink you into thinking theres relationship problems so you both have a 'break' then you both come back together and alls forgotten, because if you mention it again about his ex, he will threaten to have a break or split up. Its manipulation.

whichwayisup · 18/02/2024 15:21

The fact you have such diametrically opposing views of the relationship you are in would worry me the most. You have a "perfect" relationship and he has one he wants to leave. Is he such a people pleaser that he subjugates his needs to such an extent that none of his needs are met. Or are you so focussed on everything being perfect that you can't see the cracks as they appear.

Either way, this is not going to end well. The ex-girlfriend is a red herring. You are not living in the same reality as each other.

It must be awful for you to be confronted by the reality of your life but you must not look away.

I know someone who had a very similar "perfect" relationship. His family loved her - his mum was devastated when they split. But while they would also describe never arguing, intertwined lives, holidays with each others families, best friends and to us from the outside it did appear a perfect relationship.... He was having an affair. She was absolutely blind sided. He went on to marry his affair partner and live the life he actually wanted.

DailyEnergyCrisis · 18/02/2024 15:22

Infatuation can make you feel like the other person must feel the same- you miss little (and big) clues that they don’t. Start to make plans for moving on- though I know it’ll take time to recover 💐

Loubelle70 · 18/02/2024 15:23

IncompleteSenten · 18/02/2024 15:06

He wants a couple of weeks to see if his ex will take him back.
If she won't then he wants to be able to come back to you, his back up plan.

What would I do? Id tell him he clearly thinks I'm a moron if he thinks I don't know exactly what he's after and not to bother with his soul searching because you've done yours and your search turned up a note saying fuck off.

Yep

PersephonePomegranate23 · 18/02/2024 15:23

If he wants to break up, just can damn well sleep on his mother's sofa! What a cheeky fucker to think he can break up with you and still stay in your house!

You are not perfect together - nobody is. Relationships take work, not the facade of perfection thst have other people jealous.

PossumintheHouse · 18/02/2024 15:24

First off, you need to get him out the house. Him being around and meddling with your mind like that is not going to help you.

Secondly, why did the ex message you? What did she actually say? And what did he say to her?

ThatPearlOP · 18/02/2024 15:25

Loubelle70 · 18/02/2024 15:17

Hes trying to get out of the difficult conversation about his ex, solely.
Thinks he can drop off end earth for a week and youll miss him so much that no questions will be asked.
Tell him oc you can have a break, also tell him that you can both then address this ringing the ex up... or tbh don't bother, just agree and pack his bags, be cordial and nice about it (he will be wtf?!!)...then tell him to fibd somewhere else now.
He definitely rung her fgs. Hes trying to hoodwink you into thinking theres relationship problems so you both have a 'break' then you both come back together and alls forgotten, because if you mention it again about his ex, he will threaten to have a break or split up. Its manipulation.

Edited

I agree with this take 100%. Thank you so much. I just need to find the strength to tell him he has to stay at his mums. I feel terrible about it

OP posts:
TraitorsGate · 18/02/2024 15:25

Tell his mum, tell him to go and think about his life elsewhere, he doesn't want to be in this relationship any more, it's better you know now, think of it as a lucky escape. Whys he even still got his ex number? Why did they split up, sounds like he's hedging his bets, get him to leave, there's no point in you both moping about the house. Take family or friends on holiday if you can cancel.

ThatPearlOP · 18/02/2024 15:28

PossumintheHouse · 18/02/2024 15:24

First off, you need to get him out the house. Him being around and meddling with your mind like that is not going to help you.

Secondly, why did the ex message you? What did she actually say? And what did he say to her?

Thank you, I know I need to find the strength to do that. I am such a people pleaser that I genuinely just can’t imagine him having to sleep on her sofa. I feel so bad

Sorry, I should have clarified. She messaged with a screenshot of a missed call from him at 2am (ish) and said hi, you don’t know me, I’m ___ ex girlfriend, I wanted to let you know I woke up with a missed call from him, they haven’t spoken in over 3 years so it’s entirely random, and she would want to know if her partner did it

So she did the right thing by letting me know. It was just a missed call I’m guessing she was asleep and he didn’t get the chance to say anything to her

OP posts:
PersephonePomegranate23 · 18/02/2024 15:29

I agree with this take 100%. Thank you so much. I just need to find the strength to tell him he has to stay at his mums. I feel terrible about it

Why? I honestly think you should end this relationship and this long and hard about why you are the one feeling terrible about telling him him go when 1. It was him who called his ex and 2. Him who told you he wants to to break up. Do not getting into another relationship or resume this one without answering that question.

Who ends a relationships and expects to still stay in the house?

TraitorsGate · 18/02/2024 15:32

How did the ex know your number to message you

ThatPearlOP · 18/02/2024 15:33

Wasn’t my number, she found my Instagram page.

I don’t know how she found it but maybe she’s just heard through the grapevine who his girlfriend is etc.

OP posts:
BoohooWoohoo · 18/02/2024 15:33

If you and him got back together it will be because his ex doesn’t want him back. You deserve more than being a plan B gf. As a plan B, you will be dropped as soon as he sees someone that he likes as much as his ex so not a good long term prospect.

Take control over the other stuff by taking someone else on holiday (usually a small fee to change the name on a booking) and sell your tickets or buy another so you can attend with someone else.

You can’t start the healing process until he moves out. By keeping him in your house you are prolonging your pain and the risk of him using you purely for sex while he pines over his ex. So what if he has to sleep on his mum’s couch? Maybe he will sell you a concert ticket so he can save towards a rental deposit? You should be angry and not sad for him. He clearly dumped you to avoid having to discuss his ex and his excuse that he dialled the wrong number is clearly bullshit even if he has a friend with a similar name. You need to wake up and not let him use you. Kindness is a good quality for a partner but you risk being a doormat

Viewfrommyhouse · 18/02/2024 15:34

Absolutely not. Tell him to leave. Even if you were to entertain a 'break' - which you should NOT - you can't do it whilst you're under the same roof. It does not work. If I were you, I'd take control and make it quite clear the relationship is over as far as you're concerned. It might not be what you want, but him having you hanging by a thread is no good for you either.

TraitorsGate · 18/02/2024 15:35

ThatPearlOP · 18/02/2024 15:33

Wasn’t my number, she found my Instagram page.

I don’t know how she found it but maybe she’s just heard through the grapevine who his girlfriend is etc.

If she is a real ex she shouldn't need to know anything about you, your name, that you're on Instagram, he also wouldn't need to keep her number.

5128gap · 18/02/2024 15:36

I'm really sorry OP, but it sounds as though the relationship you think you're in is very different from the reality. It always rings warning bells when people use the word 'perfect' repeatedly (no such thing!) and talk about adoring rather than like/get on with, as its very intense and often says more about what the person wants rather than what they have.
I think in your happiness and enthusiasm you haven't noticed what's going on with him and that he's not in the same place, and seems to be feeling a bit pressured/suffocated. For what it's worth, his apologies, walking the streets till 4am and weird behaviour suggest guilt. So I think something may have happened on Friday with his ex or someone else.
If I were you I'd follow your mums advice and send him to his mums. If you don't I think you'll drift back to normal because it's easier, but if he really isn't happy, it will only erupt again and you'll have to deal with it a second time.

TraitorsGate · 18/02/2024 15:37

Message her back, tell her you've ditched him if she's still interested.

PossumintheHouse · 18/02/2024 15:39

ThatPearlOP · 18/02/2024 15:28

Thank you, I know I need to find the strength to do that. I am such a people pleaser that I genuinely just can’t imagine him having to sleep on her sofa. I feel so bad

Sorry, I should have clarified. She messaged with a screenshot of a missed call from him at 2am (ish) and said hi, you don’t know me, I’m ___ ex girlfriend, I wanted to let you know I woke up with a missed call from him, they haven’t spoken in over 3 years so it’s entirely random, and she would want to know if her partner did it

So she did the right thing by letting me know. It was just a missed call I’m guessing she was asleep and he didn’t get the chance to say anything to her

Edited

Tricky one, as it was just a missed call I might have side-eyed her contact.
However, she has done you a favour. He clearly called her for dodgy reasons going off how he’s reacted following you discovering the call.
Like pp said, he’s trying to worm his way out of explaining his drunk dial. Something’s up. He’s taking the absolute piss expecting to stay in your home.
Ship him off to his mother. He’s her responsibility, not your’s.

ButterCrackers · 18/02/2024 15:41

Resell the concert tickets. See if you can get any of the costs back for the holiday. If you can’t get the cost back cancel his travel tickets and go on your own.

FirstTimeMum887 · 18/02/2024 15:46

Take back control of the situation. Don't leave everything to him - why does he get to decide when and if you get back together, where he lives etc? He has decided to break up with you. Fine, ultimately we all deserve to be happy and can break up a relationship if we're not happy. But you also have the right to move on and not let him control your life. If you don't kick him out, this will mess with your head and self esteem, it will absolutely ruin you.