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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:
OLDbutnotforgotten · 20/02/2024 09:59

kkloo · 20/02/2024 09:20

He still swears that the ex was just a misdial / pocket dial. I believe this now because, him kissing someone is so much worse than that, he would have just told me that too.

That doesn't add up, what are the chances of him accidentally dialing the ex the day before he kissed someone else?
And he knew you wanted to talk about him phoning the ex on the Saturday but by the time you'd got home he was already back out drinking.

He's lying.

There is much more going on than you think.

and I guarantee that it’s been more than a drunk mis dial to the ex. Why would she then take the trouble to find you on social media to tell you she had a missed call from him?

would you do that after a single missed call from an ex boyfriend from 3 years ago?

LiveLaughCryalot · 20/02/2024 10:03

You are not going to break up with this man. Yet. For the millionth time, once a man like this senses your desperation and low self esteem you are done for. It doesn't matter how 'perfect' he has been up to this point. This is who he is now. He now knows he can do what he wants,with who he wants and you will tolerate it.
He will proceed to do as much damage to you from this point on as you allow.
You will go to the concert with him. You will go on holiday with him. Buckle up OP, its going to be a bumpy ride until YOU decide to get off.
My advice, no matter how painful, rip the plaster off now. It is the only way. Never mind his mum or sister. They will soon turn on you later down the line when you decide you've finally had enough and he becomes their problem again. He's a dud.

Pumpkinpie1 · 20/02/2024 10:08

OP he really isn’t worth your energy.
You deserve much better.
I would distance yourself from his sister.
Sell the tickets if you don’t want to go , but don’t give them to her or the Ex get your money back.
As for the holiday either you go or cancel and get a refund.
Don’t give him an inch
You say you are a people pleaser well the person you need to please right now is yourself. Do things to make you feel happy !
Youve had a lucky escape with this guy block him and don’t engage with him or his family

Confusedandemotional · 20/02/2024 10:10

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Olika · 20/02/2024 10:28

You need to end this for good. He can go and do whatever he wants as a single man that he wants to be.

Ulysees · 20/02/2024 10:49

You seem to think it's guilt that's driving his behaviour? I think partly perhaps but also he'll have been seen.
Give him an inch and he'll be up to allsorts.
Are you planning to have a family with this WOP? Don't. I guarantee you'll end up splitting as he'll definitely cheat.

I agree with above pp. You need to be pleasing yourself. If you do want dcs in the future they don't need a wishy washy dm. Being strong isn't a negative. Being a walkover is.

Xoxoxoxoxoxox · 20/02/2024 10:57

How ‘nice’ and understanding I am is my favourite thing about myself and I don’t want to let anybody ever take away my kindness. I pride myself on it.

While kindness is an admirable quality it does seem to be pushed on women a lot more than it is on men. Beeeeee Kiiiiind has become a staple aspirational trope told to girls, it's printed on t-shirts and in children's books and children's tv.
Don't let him manipulate you into thinking this is a one off and you are so kind that you let him off, he's 28 - not so young that kissing another woman was a naiive mistake.
If you have kids with this guy then the pressure is really on and he's proved he's unreliable, I would not trust him or allow him back in. Be brave.

houseydncf · 20/02/2024 11:02

He still tried to call his ex OP. You sound really naive.

He kissed someone else which is cheating and also tried to call his ex for what reason? Cheating rating reasons.

The two things actually fit hand in hand.

I'm sorry, you're so sad. It's awful. But you need to toughen up and fake it till you make it.

I'd reccomend a book called 'attached' you sound like you have an anxious attachment type and the book may help you.

houseydncf · 20/02/2024 11:02

Related*

Starlight1979 · 20/02/2024 11:14

houseydncf · 20/02/2024 11:02

He still tried to call his ex OP. You sound really naive.

He kissed someone else which is cheating and also tried to call his ex for what reason? Cheating rating reasons.

The two things actually fit hand in hand.

I'm sorry, you're so sad. It's awful. But you need to toughen up and fake it till you make it.

I'd reccomend a book called 'attached' you sound like you have an anxious attachment type and the book may help you.

Agree with @houseydncf Do you think it's a coincidence he "accidentally" called his ex around the same time as he then kissed someone else? He's looking elsewhere OP. You need to move on now...

Blu23 · 20/02/2024 11:18

OP, just a hypothetical situation - what if you have a daughter in the future and God forbid, she is in this situation, what will you tell her? I am 40 and have a daughter and there is no way I will suggest her to give another chance to a guy like this. My husband is committed but his brother is already in his 3rd marriage, after divorcing previous two, even after having kids with the last one and two-timing her and having another child with the current woman he is dating whilst he wasn't even divorced with the second wife, I really dislike how unethical he is and I know people like this will never change.
I am really sorry that you are hurt but be strong, you deserve someone who is better.

JaneAustensHeroine · 20/02/2024 11:29

He sounds immature OP (probably typical of his age though). You have actually outgrown him. He is not ready for a ‘perfect’ partner.

Think carefully about your next actions because you are well ahead of him and staying in the relationship means patiently waiting for him to catch up with you.

If he has indicated he is unhappy or dissatisfied in any way previously then he needs to go and explore that further…find the ‘spark’ he thinks was missing. Meanwhile, you move on with your life…seeing friends, travelling, enjoying your 20s. If your paths cross in a few years’ time you can make your decision then about whether you want to have a relationship or not.

You have time on your side. He needs to be without you to really value what he has lost. If you stay together right now he will think the grass is greener every time he feels dissatisfied. Let him miss you (and give him time to grow up a bit).

PS. You are too good for him.

Awwwwooooga · 20/02/2024 11:41

I would take what he told you about needing something more in his life at face value. I’d imagine calling the ex was an attempt to go back to a time when he felt he maybe did know himself and, in a drunk state, he felt she was the answer. Similarly, the kissing a random person seems like he feels he needs something else from his life. Combine this with a drop in the sexual relationship between you both, seems to indicate that he feels there is something missing, but that he maybe still has feelings for you as a partner

Sceptical123 · 20/02/2024 13:15

I guarantee after a few weeks/months he will be telling you he wants to get back together. He will have sown his wild oats (or tried to) and realised that casual sex may be exciting but he misses the stability of a relationship and will miss you bc you are familiar and give him a load of leeway - this isn’t a common trait in women as he will find out. I have been in this situation several times when I was younger and they have always made contact wanting to meet up or ‘check in’ on me, which was presumably a prelude to meeting up and possibly getting back together/a booty call. My response was always the same - you ended it, deal with it. It was 100% satisfying knowing they wanted me back while I was single or in the next relationship and I would barely give them the time of day bc I didn’t want or need them in my life any more. I’d moved on.

He will respect you more if you don’t take him back and will learn a life lesson - to appreciate what he has. It’s entirely up to you to give him another chance. But consider how you will feel about yourself if he does it again but goes further, when you are more tightly bound together with marriage, kids and a mortgage.

SoundTheSirens · 20/02/2024 17:04

How ‘nice’ and understanding I am is my favourite thing about myself and I don’t want to let anybody ever take away my kindness. I pride myself on it.

Kindness is great, OP, but you have to extend that kindness to yourself too. Kindness without boundaries is self-destructive.

Pinkbonbon · 20/02/2024 17:32

As previous poster said, kindness to yourself is important to. Otherwise its not kindness, its martyrdom. And that's not the same thing.

I don't think you're a doormat as you've shown you can put the foot down when needed but the 'I am kind' being a defining feature you cling too, can come from having a background of it being drummed into you you need to be that way for some bigger reason.

Perhaps, learned from a parent with codependency (modeling 'we need to always put other people first' for you). Or, because someone around you, again, perhaps as you were growing up, was prone to being a massive, selfish, taker. And these sort condition you into thinking you always need to put other people's needs and wants first. Irregardless of your own needs.

Being bullied consistently growing up could be another cause. Where you think 'I don't want to be like these people' amd 'I want to see the best in others no matter what' because that's what helped you survive.

Finally, abusive relationships in the past can cause it as there was emphasis on us needing to be good, honest, transparent,nice and forgiving. To avoid their wrath, judgement, accusations etc...we thought it would keep us safe.

I've been there and now I don't say 'it's very important to be a nice person' I say 'I try to do what's right but I'm also kind to myself'. If you define yourself as nice...you soend your whole life trying to guard that persona of yourself you've made up in your mind. And you feel bad when you fall off that pedestal youve created for yourself. And bad people can easily exploit that.

TinyTyrantsSnackb1tch · 20/02/2024 17:48

Cute... now on top of everything else, he's kissed another woman and is gaslighting the shit out of you. I don't believe for one second he only kissed this woman in the club, by the sounds of him and his morals he's defo banged her. You deserve better than this.

C'mon OP, put your big girl pants on and dump the lying twat. I really don't want to see a another thread from you in a few minutes the time where he's absolutely broke your heart, do not give him this power.

You pride yourself on being kind, please be kind to YOURSELF and get out of this shitshow. And in the nicest way... you're not being kind to him either, you're going to end up enabling this shitty behaviour so please put yourself first, heal from this and find the right one for you.

Anjea · 20/02/2024 22:17

WTAF were his mum and sister crying for?

And I agree it wasn't one missed call. No one on earth would take the time to find a new GF if it ended 3 years ago and they had one missed call.

Nothing adds up in his story. Sounds like he wants sex but not at home. Sorry x

Lampslights · 20/02/2024 22:33

Anjea · 20/02/2024 22:17

WTAF were his mum and sister crying for?

And I agree it wasn't one missed call. No one on earth would take the time to find a new GF if it ended 3 years ago and they had one missed call.

Nothing adds up in his story. Sounds like he wants sex but not at home. Sorry x

I’m curious why they were crying too, it’s the most ludicrous thing I’ve read,

EighteenBaldingStars · 20/02/2024 22:36

WTAF were his mum and sister crying for?

I've been meaning to ask this - sounds like a slightly teenaged reaction all round tbh.

Op, I'm really sorry about the kissing and the drunk dialling. I'm sure you'll do whatever and it may or may not work out. Who knows? I do think you all need to keep a lid on the perfect relationship talk. You've said it, he's said it and now his mum is gurning because your relationship (of only 3 years) may be 'tainted'. It's just such a bad idea to see a relationship as perfect. In all honestly, I don't know many men who would want that pressure from all the women he is probably closest to.

Hope you are alright whatever happens though.

PersephonePomegranate23 · 21/02/2024 06:17

I’m curious why they were crying too, it’s the most ludicrous thing I’ve read,

I thought this too! Very odd reaction!

Loubelle70 · 21/02/2024 10:10

ThatPearlOP · 20/02/2024 05:03

Hi everyone, I have an update…

He text around midday yesterday telling me he needs to see me and talk to me about something. He hates himself right now. I’m perfect, he doesn’t deserve me etc. I thought he was going to admit that he did call his ex… nope. He kissed a random girl on the 2nd night out. He swears nothing else happened / he didn’t get her number, nothing like that.

He still swears that the ex was just a misdial / pocket dial. I believe this now because, him kissing someone is so much worse than that, he would have just told me that too.

I’m devastated obviously, I did not expect it from him. He told his mum and sister and they’ve both cried.

He says it’s nothing I’ve done, we are happy, he’s made the biggest mistake of his life and ruined something ‘perfect’ (his words!). I have told him I need time away from him.

Like I thought, he has been so distraught and acting this way because he is guilty of something (granted I thought it was calling his ex girlfriend).

I’m just so sad. I never thought this would happen to us.

With respect, do you think this is a diversion tactic? He may be giving you the less extreme of his misgivings...to satisfy your inquisitiveness. I wouldn't trust him at all

Pinkbonbon · 21/02/2024 14:57

Tbf usually they just give you a little of what they've done. Then the rest comes out over time.

It sounds like he kissed (or more) her but couldn't get everything from her, so attempted to booty call his ex. Or the other way around. Or, he fully cheated and then thought, 'what else can I get?' so he phoned his ex.

As others have said, too much of a coincidence to pocket call the ex on the same night you snog a random.

He's probably attempting a 'we were on a break' moment to see what else he can get elsewhere.

Maybe its not been working/already worked so he's thinking of trying to come back with a 'it was just a kiss' excuse. At first he seems all guilt ridden but watch how fast you'll be expected to 'get over it' when he wants to come back.

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