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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

Why Has he Done This?

28 replies

NattyQuail · 09/01/2025 14:40

I've been friends with a man for 3 years whom I met through a mutual hobby. He's 46 and I'm 40 soon. I really liked him when we first met but he only wanted to be friends. He's never had a proper relationship - first major red flag, I know. He still lives with his mum, although he's house shared previously in his 20's.

I got over him eventually but maintained my friendship with him and we were really good friends. He's always been there for me, just kept me at arms length. We had lunches out, trips to the cinema, walks and nights in watching films. He was a good friend but very emotionally flat. He doesn't appear autistic but has a very avoidant attachment style. He comes from a big family and his siblings have got families of their own. He is the eldest. Parent's relationship broke down when he was in his mid teens.

I've had an awful previous 2 years and he knows this. Then one night back in November he suddenly kisses me. He's always hot and cold anyway and when we first met he chased me and then backed off once he realised I liked him.

I really struggled to get my feelings back but once I did he broke it off saying he doesn't know whether he likes me enough to continue. We'd slept together numerous times ... he couldn't wait to get me into bed at first.

I said I don't know whether our friendship could survive this. To break it off so soon when nothing negative happened. He seemed to really regret what he'd done and chased me all through the following week. We fell back into things over Christmas and he's just suddenly dumped me again saying the same thing again. He needs help and he knows this. He's self confessed idiot and knows he's messed up.

I'm just so, so, so hurt and angry and I'm going to go no contact now. I was his only friend, too and now he's lost me and I've lost him. I can't believe the disrespect.

Sorry, just wanted to rant.

OP posts:
ThatsCute · 09/01/2025 14:44

I’m struggling to follow the timeline.

  • kissed you in Nov, despite being “not interested” up until then
  • been having sex since Nov
  • has recently dropped all interest
Is this correct?
Candlesandmatches · 09/01/2025 14:47

Walk away. This friendship gives you very little.

username299 · 09/01/2025 14:56

Because he could.

All the red flags were there: emotionally stunted, avoidant, immature, permanently single.

For some reason you decided that makes a good basis for a relationship and he shockingly proved you wrong.

Kashmiri24 · 09/01/2025 15:04

He’s not just avoidant, he’s immature and childish. Kick him to the kerb and find someone else.

Waitingforthesunshine24 · 09/01/2025 15:09

NattyQuail · 09/01/2025 14:40

I've been friends with a man for 3 years whom I met through a mutual hobby. He's 46 and I'm 40 soon. I really liked him when we first met but he only wanted to be friends. He's never had a proper relationship - first major red flag, I know. He still lives with his mum, although he's house shared previously in his 20's.

I got over him eventually but maintained my friendship with him and we were really good friends. He's always been there for me, just kept me at arms length. We had lunches out, trips to the cinema, walks and nights in watching films. He was a good friend but very emotionally flat. He doesn't appear autistic but has a very avoidant attachment style. He comes from a big family and his siblings have got families of their own. He is the eldest. Parent's relationship broke down when he was in his mid teens.

I've had an awful previous 2 years and he knows this. Then one night back in November he suddenly kisses me. He's always hot and cold anyway and when we first met he chased me and then backed off once he realised I liked him.

I really struggled to get my feelings back but once I did he broke it off saying he doesn't know whether he likes me enough to continue. We'd slept together numerous times ... he couldn't wait to get me into bed at first.

I said I don't know whether our friendship could survive this. To break it off so soon when nothing negative happened. He seemed to really regret what he'd done and chased me all through the following week. We fell back into things over Christmas and he's just suddenly dumped me again saying the same thing again. He needs help and he knows this. He's self confessed idiot and knows he's messed up.

I'm just so, so, so hurt and angry and I'm going to go no contact now. I was his only friend, too and now he's lost me and I've lost him. I can't believe the disrespect.

Sorry, just wanted to rant.

As above poster said, because he could. He fancies a bit and you are there. But he is giving you crumbs, playing about not wanting to commit. You're just a fall back. I say this as someone who has been there myself, never ends well. He sounds like a user.
100% find someone else OP Biscuit

NattyQuail · 09/01/2025 15:19

ThatsCute · 09/01/2025 14:44

I’m struggling to follow the timeline.

  • kissed you in Nov, despite being “not interested” up until then
  • been having sex since Nov
  • has recently dropped all interest
Is this correct?

Yes, that's correct.

And for the poster who says I thought that this was a good basis for a relationship, I thought our solid friendship could have been a foundation for something more meaningful.

My friend married a lovely guy who was a virgin until he was 30. This is rare, I know, but there are some decent men out there who are like this.

OP posts:
BlackBranches · 09/01/2025 15:23

Pretty much exactly the same thing happened to me, once. I felt exactly as you do now. There was then a period, after the initial no contact, where I thought there could be a rapprochement of sorts - but as soon as I opened the door to that, he couldn't wait to find little ways to hurt me and make me jealous. I had to close that door again, and accept the loss of the relationship (whatever it had been). It took a very long time to get over, because it was just such a head-fuck. Ultimately, however sentimental I sometimes felt about it from afar, whenever I saw him in person I just felt cold fury. I believe he's still never had a proper relationship. One day, you will get your peace of mind back... Look after yourself and don't accept crumbs.

dramalessllama · 09/01/2025 15:25

Fm what you've described here, your friendship was anything but "solid." At best, he was a good acquaintance, but a friendship has emotional involvement - like empathy, and respect.

StormingNorman · 09/01/2025 15:25

I don’t think he meant to hurt you. He seems emotionally immature and probably didn’t realise how he was making you feel.

He left you feeling like shit though and you don’t owe him a friendship after this.

PromiseNotToCall · 09/01/2025 15:33

I'm sorry to be direct; of course, he couldn't wait to get you into bed because he wanted to use you.

What can a man like this truly offer you? Equivocal emotions, communication and tepid sex. Walk away!

ItGhoul · 09/01/2025 15:36

You both want completely different things. He wants the occasional shag with a friend. You want a relationship. Neither of you is wrong to want the things you want, but they are different things and you therefore cannot provide them to each other.

This is clearly upsetting you, so you need to end the friendship.

WallaceinAnderland · 09/01/2025 15:36

This sounds a bit like FWB except your friendship isn't great and it only seems to benefit him.

Distance yourself and stop letting him use you like this.

BlackBranches · 09/01/2025 15:36

StormingNorman · 09/01/2025 15:25

I don’t think he meant to hurt you. He seems emotionally immature and probably didn’t realise how he was making you feel.

He left you feeling like shit though and you don’t owe him a friendship after this.

There's something to this, but I think a certain selfishness is part of it too. With mine, he witnessed my emotional distress, tears, fragility... Yet said very little, and seemed to convince himself that I would get over it quickly and move on. The only thing that made him remorseful was when I said it was impossible to be friends, and at that point he said that he was so sorry etc ... And also that the worst thing about it was that he had lost me as a friend! All about the impact on him.

ThatsCute · 09/01/2025 15:37

NattyQuail · 09/01/2025 15:19

Yes, that's correct.

And for the poster who says I thought that this was a good basis for a relationship, I thought our solid friendship could have been a foundation for something more meaningful.

My friend married a lovely guy who was a virgin until he was 30. This is rare, I know, but there are some decent men out there who are like this.

Being a virgin at 30 is one thing. Your guy is 16 years older than this. He’s 46 and has never lived on his own—only in a 20-something house-share, then moved back in with Mummy. The man is nearly 50. He’s behaving like a 14 year-old boy—“I like you, but then I lose interest once you like me. I’ll have sex with you, but then ghost you.” He has issues. He’s a middle-aged man who behaves like he’s emotionally stunted 32 years younger than his actual age. Run. Most men have had mortgages, marriages, and/or children by age 46.

StopStartStop · 09/01/2025 15:38

Block.

I don't care what his intentions were, his behaviour has upset you. Cut him out of your life for good.

Lighteningstrikes · 09/01/2025 15:54

This has happened to me by someone who I believed had a lot of integrity. I was wrong.

It was such a sad letdown.

in time you will be fine, and you will look back and see him for who he really is. It’s one of life’s sad lessons 💐

Lighteningstrikes · 09/01/2025 15:57

…and like others have said, cut him out of your life. He does not deserve your friendship anymore. You will also find it very liberating.

penelopelondon · 09/01/2025 16:22

He's an emotionally handicapped toddler, and terrified of real intimacy. Run run run unless you just want to be just buddies with him, then accept him flawed and all and start properly dating someone else.

NattyQuail · 09/01/2025 16:59

dramalessllama · 09/01/2025 15:25

Fm what you've described here, your friendship was anything but "solid." At best, he was a good acquaintance, but a friendship has emotional involvement - like empathy, and respect.

He was always there for me whenever I needed him as a friend.

He has major anxiety issues and is very, very shy. He does understand he's hurt me and that my friendship may not be a possibility anymore.

He's cried in front of me numerous times once he realised how upset I was. He says he's only ever really been attracted to people who aren't interested in him and those who have liked him he's just walked away from in the end. Which highlights very strongly his attachment issues and low self esteem.

He's had 2 very casual girlfriends and a few one night stands but I would have been happy with fwb situation ... it's just hurtful as he didn't come at it from that direction. He tricked me into believing he wanted something more with me.

OP posts:
ThatsCute · 09/01/2025 17:05

@NattyQuail he sounds very emotionally immature for a 46 year-old man.

momtoboys · 09/01/2025 17:29

"My friend married a lovely guy who was a virgin until he was 30. This is rare, I know, but there are some decent men out there who are like this".

I'm unclear as to what being a virgin has to do with this. "there are some decent men out there" Yes, but your lad isn't one of them. Hold your chin up and toss him to the curb. You deserve more than he is willing to give you. Whe oyu said he has cried with you about this situation, I wanted to slap him myself.

Pumpkinpie1 · 09/01/2025 17:38

I think he’s been very cruel to you.

Orangesinthebag · 09/01/2025 18:18

I think you have had a lucky escape from something that really had no real future and could have ambled on for longer wasting your time.
You are 40, you still have time to get out there, meet someone else & have a fulfilling relationship. With respect, this feels like it was never going anywhere

penelopelondon · 09/01/2025 21:50

He's a troubled man, as much as you want to help him it's really messing up your head in a bad way. In cases like this I would just tell him I'm taking a break from this "friendship" as I need to clear my head, then step away. In a few months and once head is clear decide if you want to keep this guy as "friend only" but never never ever get emotionally involved or sleep with him EVER again because he's really messed up. If you can handle a friends only with no benefits then go ahead. If being friends ONLY with him is going to mess your head also then politely get rid. He needs therapy, not a girlfriend.

Mnaamn · 09/01/2025 23:19

OP, he's a mess and you deserve better.
Block and never answer him again.
You are wasting your time.
Men are not projects to fix.
Unfortunately some women don't get that and waste years on head wreckers who mess them around.

Do the www.freedomprogramme.co.uk to help you with boundaries and self esteem.

Don't allow him near you again.

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