Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

Should to trust my boyfriend about his “girl friend”?

36 replies

PollyPocket987 · 28/02/2024 20:21

My partner of 10 years, who I have two kids with and a house, told me that another girl has a picture of him and her as her phone screensaver.
Back story is my partner joined a mixed gender sports team 18 months ago and takes part in competitions. He was at a comp last week with this “friend” who we shall call Megan. He returned home, after competiting in a team with Megan and four others, and somehow bought up this… “oh you were there when someone asked whether the guy on Megan’s phone was her boyfriend weren’t you but it’s a picture of me and her” or something along those lines. I told him categorically that I wasn’t there and had no clue he was her screensaver. Im now beginning to wonder whether this someone was actually my friend and he’s trying to cover his tracks. I told my partner I found this very strange that a girl who he hasn’t really known for very long as his photo as her screensaver. The photo is from another competiton, 7 months ago, where they took part in a team. And the photo isn’t of the rest of the team, it’s just the two of them. I asked my partner why did Megan have this photo as her screensaver and he relied “she told Me that it’s the happiest she’s felt”. Again very weird I find, why not have the whole team picture from the day. And I honestly believe that someone asking Megan if that was her boyfriend is a very natural and normal thing to do. Because let’s be honest who has a picture of someone else’s boyfriend as their screensaver.
I told my boyfriend it made me feel very uncomfortable. I know this girl, haven’t actually spoken to her, but when I’ve gone to watch them play competitions she knows me and the kids exist.
i stewed in the info for 2 days and then on the third day I asked my boyfriend whether Megan had ever propositioned him and he strongly denied this and said that he felt like she was a little sister he never had and she felt the same.
I then asked whether she had ever messaged him privately and not the group and he denied she had. I asked him to prove it. There were no messages there. However I knew there had been. In the two days I had had this info for, I did wrong and checked his phone. But there were messages there from her, which seemed innocent and it was about going out the following weekend for her birthday. I challenged him and he went mad saying I obviously didn’t trust him. Well no, you’ve lied, deleted messages and are a screensaver on another girls phone. Long story short, he promised me nothing happened and said he now understood where I was coming from.
everything was fine. He went out for her birthday along with others. I was honest and told him I wasn’t comfortable about it but I didn’t want him kissing out on the social with the rest of the team.
today, he went to the sports club. I asked him who was there and he said Megan was but she was training with another team. I’ve sneakily looked at his phone, he’s been in a stinking mood all day but then when I got home (after he had been to the sports club) he was sickly nice. On that phone was a message in his teams chat if a video taken of him by Megan. It was an innocent video of him stretching with her saying “wow look at the flexibility on this video” but it’s the fact that he lied about her talking to her / seeing her.
now what do i do. I’ve told him he needs to distance himself, he’s refusing. I asked him not to be alone with her, it was all arrant that even though the gym hall was busy, they were working out together. He was flat out saying I was over reacting. Am I? I didn’t think I was so I told him once again to back off from her and possibly tell her that I and he feels like she’s crossing the line and if he didn’t say anything to her then I would. Because I’m not being made a fool of. I also go to the sports clubs but at different times due to childcare and I don’t want people knowing things that I don’t.
Am I over reacting or do I trust my instinct in that something doesn’t add up. I trust my boyfriend but I don’t know whether he’s enjoying the attention from Megan. She’s mid 20s, he’s early 30s.

OP posts:
Surfapparel · 28/02/2024 20:28

OP, I have had relationships end over my refusal to give up male friends.

Nothing about this is ok. There is something going on. Either she is in love with him or they are in love with each other. Not in a million years would I put a picture of me and a male friend as my screensaver. I wouldn't with any of my female friends either I don't think. That's just weird. But him deleting the messages and lying to you - no something is off. I'd want him only to see her in group settings.

Psychoticbreak · 28/02/2024 20:31

YOu told him you are not comfortable with this. You are his partner so you should be his priority.

PollyPocket987 · 28/02/2024 20:33

Thanks both. I feel like I’m being made out to be the bad guy by him and that I’m over reacting which I really don’t think I have. If he won’t distance himself / won’t tell her it’s inappropriate would you speak to her yourself?

OP posts:
Psychoticbreak · 28/02/2024 20:36

She is not responsible for your relationship, he is. Do not talk to her. This is all on him.

Surfapparel · 28/02/2024 20:38

PollyPocket987 · 28/02/2024 20:33

Thanks both. I feel like I’m being made out to be the bad guy by him and that I’m over reacting which I really don’t think I have. If he won’t distance himself / won’t tell her it’s inappropriate would you speak to her yourself?

No, I would not. You set your boundary with him (for me, it would be no meeting alone and no messaging her one on one) and if he won't comply then that's it. There is such a thing as unreasonable jealousy obviously but I wouldn't do this to someone else (now) or stay in a relationship where this was the situation.

PollyPocket987 · 28/02/2024 20:39

I’m so glad I’ve come on here. I’ve never been on any of these chats but I sat thinking earlier , oh god how I’d love More17 magazine or whatever it was called to still be around so I could write into it about getting advice about this and then found this site.
thankyou both so much again. I think you’re right Surfapparel, I honestly think she’s in love with him. My partner told me (before all of this) that she made a move on another sports club member (not in their team) and got rejected so makes me wonder whether she has a thing for latching onto men and hoping they’ll choose her

OP posts:
Voone · 28/02/2024 20:40

PollyPocket987 · 28/02/2024 20:33

Thanks both. I feel like I’m being made out to be the bad guy by him and that I’m over reacting which I really don’t think I have. If he won’t distance himself / won’t tell her it’s inappropriate would you speak to her yourself?

What do you want to speak her about?

Is it to ask if something is going on? or is it to ask her to distance herself?

PollyPocket987 · 28/02/2024 20:42

Voone · 28/02/2024 20:40

What do you want to speak her about?

Is it to ask if something is going on? or is it to ask her to distance herself?

To be honest, I really don’t know. My initial thought was to ask her to distance herself from him as I find her disrespectful. But then she doesn’t need to respect me, I’m nothing to her. It should be my partner respecting me

OP posts:
Surfapparel · 28/02/2024 20:46

PollyPocket987 · 28/02/2024 20:42

To be honest, I really don’t know. My initial thought was to ask her to distance herself from him as I find her disrespectful. But then she doesn’t need to respect me, I’m nothing to her. It should be my partner respecting me

Yes exactly. There's no explanation for why this friendship is close or why he's deleting messages. I assume he doesn't delete anyone else's messages?

PollyPocket987 · 28/02/2024 20:48

Surfapparel · 28/02/2024 20:46

Yes exactly. There's no explanation for why this friendship is close or why he's deleting messages. I assume he doesn't delete anyone else's messages?

Nope, not that I know of. I’m not one to snoop in his phone anymore. Yes don’t get me wrong, young and self conscious I did but 10 years down the line with a lot of history and commitments I don’t anymore. I think if I’m honest reading my post back, I’m answering my question in that he should be respecting me and understanding and he’s just not doing it for one reason or another. Again answering my own question probably lol

OP posts:
Surfapparel · 28/02/2024 20:53

Sometimes you need to write it out to understand how you feel. That's why journalling is so helpful! Good luck OP, this could get messy.

Voone · 28/02/2024 20:57

PollyPocket987 · 28/02/2024 20:42

To be honest, I really don’t know. My initial thought was to ask her to distance herself from him as I find her disrespectful. But then she doesn’t need to respect me, I’m nothing to her. It should be my partner respecting me

Well that's it exactly.
It should be your boyfriend who is distancing himself, not her.

What kind of a relationship is it if your boundaries are only respected if you have to contact women to get them to cool interactions with your boyfriend?

PollyPocket987 · 28/02/2024 20:58

Voone · 28/02/2024 20:57

Well that's it exactly.
It should be your boyfriend who is distancing himself, not her.

What kind of a relationship is it if your boundaries are only respected if you have to contact women to get them to cool interactions with your boyfriend?

Thank you. The last part makes so much sense. Hope it does to him too!

OP posts:
FairyMaclary · 28/02/2024 21:04

He’s cheating in plain sight.

He sounds like he has mentionitus. Telling you about screen savers and how she tries it on with the men. This is so he can deny he would ever be interested in her. He’s implying she is a flirt and not his type, this means he could also suddenly pin blame on her.

He has however proven he is a liar. He lied about the messages. He lied about training with her. He us showing you he values her texts and company over being honest with you.

He is a common garden cheat. He is seeking ego kibbles and ego boosts from her. He painted you as the bad guy for checking his phone.

Read Not just friends by Shirley Glass.

Confide in a friend.

Get yourself onto surviving infidelity website and read about the hard 180.

Sorry you are in this awful situation op but screensavers, the happiest she has felt, flexibility. Women don’t do that with about their friend. He’s so ego kibbled by it all he is telling you about it.

He’s a proven liar so don’t expect him to tell you the truth.

OldTinHat · 28/02/2024 21:18

I ended a relationship when my then BF was having dates with an ex GF and his exW. But they were 'friends', you know, all fine. They were texting none stop, he was hiding his phone, same old.

So I started going out with my male friends that I'd had before meeting then BF, shit hit the fan, I was a bitch, a 'player' and a terrible person.

So it was fine for him but not for me.

Same story, OP. Old as time.

PollyPocket987 · 28/02/2024 21:18

FairyMaclary · 28/02/2024 21:04

He’s cheating in plain sight.

He sounds like he has mentionitus. Telling you about screen savers and how she tries it on with the men. This is so he can deny he would ever be interested in her. He’s implying she is a flirt and not his type, this means he could also suddenly pin blame on her.

He has however proven he is a liar. He lied about the messages. He lied about training with her. He us showing you he values her texts and company over being honest with you.

He is a common garden cheat. He is seeking ego kibbles and ego boosts from her. He painted you as the bad guy for checking his phone.

Read Not just friends by Shirley Glass.

Confide in a friend.

Get yourself onto surviving infidelity website and read about the hard 180.

Sorry you are in this awful situation op but screensavers, the happiest she has felt, flexibility. Women don’t do that with about their friend. He’s so ego kibbled by it all he is telling you about it.

He’s a proven liar so don’t expect him to tell you the truth.

Thank you.

it’s so hard, my dad did everything you’ve stated above, like text book. Took my mum out for meals with his mistress, got his mistress talking to me on the phone with the intention of me helping her with her wayward child and how I could help with the job I did. Talked about how him and his mistress had a bad day at work (they worked together) etc then got caught out.

So sometimes I worry I’m over thinking things. Me and my partner have so many mutual friends (mainly parents of our eldest friends because I find that’s what happens with women when they have kids) so it’s so hard to talk to anyone who is neutral. And I really don’t want to be the talk of the school gates without any substance.

OP posts:
FairyMaclary · 28/02/2024 21:35

Polly it sucks. It’s really pathetic behaviour. Imagine thinking this is acceptable or cool or what a person with integrity would do. Your partner is so pathetic he needs kibbles to boost his self esteem. He is prepared to sacrifice his honesty, integrity and self respect for ego kibbles. Hiding behind a bike shed with someone else’s boyfriend wasn’t a great look aged 14 and here he is doing it as a man.

You are trying to see the best in him. You are presumably loyal and faithful and you even beat yourself up about checking his phone. So whatever happens focus on your values and the qualities that matter to you. Don’t question your self worth. Don’t allow this to affect your self esteem. He’s scrabbling behind the bike sheds. If he was unhappy with you he could use his words. But no he’s lurking behind the bike sheds.

Hard 180. His behaviour is text book. It’s boring, predictable. Focus on you and your self esteem. You are the prize. Make sure you remember that whatever happens.

lifeisfunandflowersbloomintherain · 28/02/2024 21:45

Okay could be a good friend and no romantic relationship but if you are worried and your boyfriend talk to Megan face to face when she is there .

I'm sure it's not that serious but if it is try and recognise what's good for both of you, and maybe a calm space with good friends could offer u the better advice .

May even just be that Megan has a crush on him and he's gullible to that.

beatrix1234 · 28/02/2024 21:49

I'm all for having friends of the opposite sex when in a relationship, nothing wrong with me having male friends and him having female friends. If there's trust on both sides again...nothing wrong. This said... there's "friends" and there's "friends". A woman having a picture of her and my partner as screensaver, or partner lying about her messaging him etc... that's just weird and (like you) would have my spidey senses start wondering and check his phone etc... I don't know if he's involved with this woman but he's clearly feeding her infatuation with him which is a big red flag and not cool, as a married guy he should know better.

Newnamehiwhodis · 28/02/2024 21:58

the only man friend I would have as my phone background is someone I’ve known since I was 15 years old, and If he had even a brand new girlfriend who was uncomfortable with that, I would respect her emotional safety and remove it. I’ve distanced myself from him when he’s in a relationship, and it doesn’t bother me a bit, because I’m not into him romantically, and other women’s needs are something I respect.

this is all to say - it’s very odd that you can’t just be heard and they make the changes they need to make.
it’s simple. You don’t feel good with it, it needs to stop.

it’s completely unreasonable of him to refuse.

TinyTyrantsSnackb1tch · 28/02/2024 22:01

I was in a similar situation. A lass from his work who all of a sudden wouldn't look at me, would run past my car with her head down if she saw it when I was picking him up (worked in the same hospital and I often finished 30 mins before him so would wait by his dept and get him). I saw a message pop up on his phone a few weeks later, we were watching TV and he told me to look at this funny pic hed seen so the message scrolled across the top of the screen "So funny. Be careful though. See you tomorrow sweety. Xxxxxxxxxxxx" I was like "excuse me? Bit personal from a work colleague no?" told him it was making me feel very uncomfortable. But of course it was me being "paranoid and jealous" the lass from work was "just really friendly, she's a slag anyways and has banged 6 married men at work." I, stupidly, was too stunned to say anything else.

A month later, it was eating me up, I was being gaslit to the high heavens so I went to the gp, told him I was going crazy and was commenced on a rather strong dose of Fluoxetine, which I hated and told him every day how it made me feel so miserable, not myself and in a bubble. Again, all my fault for being so effing jealous and pathetic eh? Saw a few more texts in the mean time that were full of xxxxxx and little in jokes etc.

6 months later I snapped, threw him out cause he opened his laptop while sitting beside me and their message box was open with his penis standing proudly in a photo waving at her. I threw him out, 3 days later they were living together. I've since found out she's cheated on him countless times (this was 8 years ago) and also given him chlamydia a few times too. She also was sending his brother lovely pics of her punched lasagne.

Karma ❤️

Don't be like me @PollyPocket987 , listen to your gut. Get that disrespectful shit out of your life and be happy. That is the best thing you can do for yourself. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have my tornadonof a 2 year old son and firecracker 9 month old daughter. Please put yourself first and be happy.

Zabriskie · 28/02/2024 22:17

A loving and caring partner wouldn't have you in such a state. I had close female friends before I met my lady and I would not do anything to arouse suspicion. I have introduced them to each other, backed off a wee bit with the platonic female friends (as the dynamics of relationships do change a bit) and don't do anything to make a perfectly normal person feel insecure in any way. I'm open, transparent and hide nothing. Always happy to discuss anything and respctful of any feelings that are involved. It's not that difficult.

Noseybookworm · 28/02/2024 22:41

Hmm I suspect that he's up to no good OP and enjoying the attention and flattery of another woman at the very least. The question is what are you going to do about it? If he's not willing to distance himself, do you let it continue or break up?

PollyPocket987 · 28/02/2024 22:58

Noseybookworm · 28/02/2024 22:41

Hmm I suspect that he's up to no good OP and enjoying the attention and flattery of another woman at the very least. The question is what are you going to do about it? If he's not willing to distance himself, do you let it continue or break up?

That’s what’s hard to answer. We’ve got two young children and I don’t know whether I can break their family up. I honestly do think he’s being flattered like you say and very much enjoying it

OP posts:
PollyPocket987 · 28/02/2024 22:58

Zabriskie · 28/02/2024 22:17

A loving and caring partner wouldn't have you in such a state. I had close female friends before I met my lady and I would not do anything to arouse suspicion. I have introduced them to each other, backed off a wee bit with the platonic female friends (as the dynamics of relationships do change a bit) and don't do anything to make a perfectly normal person feel insecure in any way. I'm open, transparent and hide nothing. Always happy to discuss anything and respctful of any feelings that are involved. It's not that difficult.

Thank you

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread