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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

My guy friend hates my bf. idk if the things he's saying are valid or not.

60 replies

ahhhidk · 18/02/2026 08:03

there's this guy I 24 (F) know, let's call him C 24(M). I've known him since 2018, college friends. back then I had the most massive crush on him. like I literally could not look him in the eye. if he talked to me my heart would just race, it was embarrassing. and he was always SO nonchalant about everything — like he'd sometimes say stuff like "everyone's going on a date, we should go on a date, I'll be your bf" but so casually that I never knew if he was flirting or just being him. turns out he's just like that with everyone. asked out other girls the same way. so idk, maybe it meant nothing.
anyway we're not close close. like once a year, meet for drinks type friends.
a couple years after college we ran into each other at a group thing. I had a bf by then. I said I was sleepy and he offered his shoulder and I just... slept on it. he asked about my bf, said something like "man all the lawyers get the girls" (genuinely cannot tell if I imagined this), and also told me "you gave me such a nice hug the last time we met, it felt so good." I wrote it off as him just being friendly idk.
okay fast forward to like 10 days ago. C came over to drink with my bf and our mutual friend. the evening was mostly fine but my bf said a few things that didn't land great — called me his "bitch" (affectionate but still), told my friends he thought it would just be him and me that night (added it wasn't a bad surprise but still said it), and told our mutual friend he'd put on weight (as a compliment apparently??). my bf can be like this sometimes. a bit, short tempered, immature, occasionally says stuff that makes me want to disappear. but I love him and he has a good heart and we genuinely we have such a good time together so.
after my bf left C was like "did he actually want us here, hope we weren't intruding." I brushed it off.
then YESTERDAY the three( me, C and another friend)of us met for drinks again. C goes "I have tea about you." and proceeds to tell me he doesn't like my bf. found his energy off putting. then our mutual friend left and it was just C and me and this is where it got so weird.
he just started asking me things. like so many things.
do you love him for real? is this serious or just convenient? how does someone like you, a nerdy girl who's into [this band we're both obsessed with], end up with someone like him, it just doesn't match. do you want to marry him? do you even want to be a mom? He ended the conversation by saying I could do so much better.
like??? where is this coming from???
he also brought up the moment my bf interrupted me mid conversation that night and answered on my behalf and C was like why would he do that, I wanted to hear YOU talk, I've known you since 2018. said he wanted to turn to my bf and say "I've known her longer than you."
he did give my bf some credit, said he seems to have a good heart, doesn't shirk responsibility, clearly cares about me. but then also said "I just feel like you could do so much better." and then walked it back with "but maybe you know him better, he'll probably grow up in a few years."
and THEN. I overshared at some point and told him about an abortion and was like omg why am I telling you this, and he said "no. look into my eyes and tell me anything."
so what is this. is this a concerned friend?? is something else happening?? I genuinely cannot tell with him, he's always been so hard to read.
for the record I don't think I have feelings for him anymore. I'm just really curious what's actually going on with him and I can't stop dissecting this conversation.
someone help.
old crush who I see once a year had a super loaded, intimate conversation with me, questioned my whole relationship, told me I could do better. My question is why would he interrogate me for over an hour? Why would he do this?

I see that my bf can be a bit rude, and can be a bit of a "man" but is it so severe that people think I should end the relationship?? I'm asking because a previous male friend of mine had a similar reaction to my bf. What is going on?

OP posts:
QuietLifeNoDrama · 18/02/2026 08:57

You don’t really sound like you’re in an adult relationship. It reads more like you’re all still in college. Im not surprised you can’t make sense of it. I think you really need to take some time and probably some space to figure out what you want. How you want to be treated, what you want from a relationship, what kind of future you imaging having. Then go and see how your bf fits into this picture

Aluna · 18/02/2026 09:09

C’s right about your bf - he’s too ghastly for words. Why are you with him?

But C has his own issues. Flirty boy who tries to make all his female friends fancy him.

I would get some discernment: end things with your bf and keep your distance from C.

Dollymylove · 18/02/2026 09:10

It all seems a bit 15 year old schoolkid-ish.
They both sound like a couple of knobheads tbh. Bin them both and find someone who respects you

PineappleMelon · 18/02/2026 09:15

Toss them both back OP. Work on yourself and then in the future you’ll choose better.

ApplebyArrows · 18/02/2026 09:15

Close male friends can be good judges of the character of boyfriends.

C behaving like this when he isn't a close friend suggests he's just a twat.

bandog · 18/02/2026 09:18

C is stringing you along. Your bf sounds like a knob. Have some time apart from both and single and enjoy your 20’s.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 18/02/2026 09:19

Oh, OP, in twenty years or so you are going to cringe so hard over posts like these...

Go and find yourself a nice guy. Honestly. Neither of these boys wants anything more than a giggly girl who looks good. You can do so much better but you can't see it yet.

Thanksforyourlackofthought · 18/02/2026 09:42

BF is appalling.
C is an attention seeking 'pick me' boy.
You need some self respect, higher standards, a good head wobble and some time without a relationship.

Rainraingoawaydontcomeback · 18/02/2026 09:46

Far too much drama. You have a crap taste in men. You need to raise your bar - someone who is into you and not others and will treat you and others around you well is a good place to start.

KeepOffTheQuinoa · 18/02/2026 09:49

You are focussing on the wrong thing here.

The question is not the “ooooo does he fancy me” issue but your deepest and honest answers to his questions.

Sort that out first.

If you have ‘settled’ for you bf and you are writing off bad points in order to keep things going… well the relationship is not sound or healthy for you, you should finish, and only then, in due course could you think about what is going on with C.

If you love your bf with all your heart, see him as your team mate for life, the two of you supporting each other to be the best you can be, together and individually, building your best future together, then what does if matter what us going on with C? If he fancies the pants off you or is falling in love or just being a good friend, it’s irrelevant because you are focussed on your bf, not C.

So which is it?

Do not hope to be told ‘oooh, he fancies you’ as your insurance policy and exit strategy from your relationship.

If your relationship is unsatisfactory, leave.

KeepOffTheQuinoa · 18/02/2026 09:54

As dodgy as C sounds, two unconnected men separately having a bad reaction to your bf would very much give me food for thought.

And your post about him is full of red flags

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 18/02/2026 09:57

They both sound like dicks tbh 🤷🏼‍♀️

HeddaGarbled · 18/02/2026 10:01

I don’t think either of them sound very nice.

shhblackbag · 18/02/2026 10:03

KeepOffTheQuinoa · 18/02/2026 09:54

As dodgy as C sounds, two unconnected men separately having a bad reaction to your bf would very much give me food for thought.

And your post about him is full of red flags

Yes, me too. Just be single for a while, OP. It's fine.

Plus, "affectionately" calling you "his bitch"? Just no. I feel so old.

AgentPidge · 18/02/2026 10:07

Well I had a male friend who told me not to marry my BF at the time. I really, really wish I'd listened to him. I wondered if he fancied me and was biased, but now I think it didn't matter if he did or not - was being a friend. Sounds like C isn't sure that your BF is the right guy for you. Your BF doesn't sound that great, tbh. DO you see yourself with him long-term? Would he make a good dad? He does sound immature.

DuchessDandelion · 18/02/2026 10:17

Neither of them are great picks @ahhhidk and I think you ought to be wary of both of them.

Your bf was rude to make the comments he did, the bitch comment is a definite red flag for me. I'd be laying a hard boundary that there mustn't be any such repeat behaviour.

With regards to your friend/crush: he's messing you about isn't he? No wonder he leaves you confused. Flirts like mad but won't actually ask you out properly. Although he had a valid point about your boyfriends attitude when they came over, the intrusive questioning which followed was way out of line. He doesn't have any rights to you - either as a prospective boyfriend or a protective friend.

Whatever you decide to believe, your gut is telling you his behaviour isn't right which is why your head is so messed up about this.

Friendships at your age are intense and while that's a wonderful thing about them, it does lead to some head-fuckery and drama. Take it from someone who's been there, the right relationships don't mess with your head this way!

Sassylovesbooks · 18/02/2026 11:14

Your boyfriend sounds immature and an idiot. Do you want a relationship with someone who thinks it's acceptable to answer on your behalf and calls you his 'bitch'??? It's not a term of endearment, it's someone who wants you to feel inferior to him. C is correct in his opinion of your boyfriend. Ditch the boyfriend, and raise your standards.

You need to be honest with yourself, with regards to C. You still have a crush on him. There's a part of you who desperately wants him to have romantic feelings towards you. The reality is, if C had wanted a relationship with you, then it would have happened by now. I think he's a flirty man, who enjoys the attention of the opposite sex. I suspect he knows you have a crush on him, and has always known, and he likes to drop flirty remarks to keep that crush alive... it's a safe ego boost for him.

However, I think the chat he had with you about your boyfriend was a genuine conversation. He is being a friend, and had concern for you because you're a friend. I don't believe there's anything more to it, than that, to be honest. You are reading far too much into the conversation.

Whilst you are still carrying a torch for C, you can't fully settle into a relationship. You need to step back from your friendship with C, and if that means not seeing him/having no contact, then so be it. You need to accept that he's not interested in you and it's not going to happen. Whilst he's flirty with you, it gives you hope for something more. It's how he is, it's who he is. You need to emotionally heal, and you can't do it, whilst you have contact with him. For the record, I know how hard it will be, I've been there, back when I was 21, but it's the only way.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 18/02/2026 11:18

Do not do what I did which was have a platonic male best friend who was confused in his feelings for me. He took me places he’d taken only girlfriends too and when I brought it up was confused. When we eventually dated and lasted 3 months it also spelled the end of our friendship.

BillieWiper · 18/02/2026 11:23

Why would you be with someone who calls you his bitch. Are you 12? It sounds like how year 7s talk about eachother as a joke?

Honestly they both sounds pretty annoying and you all just sound kind of immature.

anonymous0810 · 18/02/2026 11:37

C sounds like a 12 year old boy and you sound like me at 15 when I spent a lot of time overanalysing every gesture and word from the boys I fancied, giving them way too much weight and then going home and checking whether our horoscopes were compatible. I think you all need to grow up. It’s totally cringe.

Changingforthisone1 · 18/02/2026 11:38

emmetgirl · 18/02/2026 08:14

Are you 14?

This!

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 18/02/2026 11:47

Screamingabdabz · 18/02/2026 08:24

I vote ditch them both and learn to love yourself without validation from self-serving immature men.

Yep. Focus on your gcses / A levels...

C sounds like a player / headwrecker and your BF doesnt sound like he respects women or you.

Frenchfrychic · 18/02/2026 11:54

You all sound really immature and it does feel like you want us to say he fancies you. Look if you’re still into him then speak to him, say what’s this all about, do you want to go on a date, are you interested. And are you sure about your boyfriend, you seem to view him rhe same way your friends do.

Planesmistakenforstars · 18/02/2026 14:26

my bf can be a bit rude, and can be a bit of a "man"

Neither your bf or C is a grown man, from what you've described. How can dating either of these tools possibly be better than being single? I know it's going to be insulting to read all these replies about your immaturity, but in all seriousness get your own shit together, grow into yourself, find a way to raise your self esteem without validation from men. And then date.

Sodthesystem · 18/02/2026 14:44

Why did he go on about it for an hour?
Because you let him.

What's going on?
You have abysmal personal boundaries.

Look it's quite simple. He doesn't fancy you but he still sees you as 'his'. Probably in part because you used to fancy him and that strokes his ego. He likes to think you're secretly pining after him. And now another kid has come along and picked up one of his old toys, he isn't happy about it. So he's being a brat.

Now, that doesn't mean that your partner isn't also a dick.

Its that thing where 'everything that comes before the word BUT is usually bullshit'. So many women on here list their partners awful behaviours before coming out with 'but he has a good heart'. Does he though? Or do YOU have a good heart and do make the mistake of assuming everyone else does too, 'deep down', even when they treat you like shit.

It's evident that you have poor boundaries because of your interactions with this friend.

Also, if I was your partner I'd feel disrespected an hurt you were giving this guy the time of day. He is inappropriate and sorry but I wouldn't be hanging with a guy I used to fancy whilst in a relationship, certainly not this one. Let alone in what sounds like a private/one on one situation.

It's all so immature.

How would you feel if your man had a girl friend like this and was oversharing and talking about you like you weren't good enough?

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