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Relationships

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Was he never really available, or was he just not that into me?

148 replies

CheeryGreenBear · 17/07/2026 10:41

I (33F) started seeing a man (43M). Right from the beginning, he told me he was going through a divorce. I knew he was still living with his wife and that they had a son (I'd rather not say his age, but he's under 10), and they hadn't told him yet that they were separating. Still, he told me he was single.
We agreed to get to know each other and see where things would go. He said he wasn't ready for a serious relationship. During the almost two months we were seeing each other, a lot happened, and it was really wonderful. We'd sit together on park benches, go for walks, have dinner together—the usual things. We'd spend hours talking, kissing, cuddling, and texting (sometimes about sex, but mostly just everyday things). We first slept together after about three weeks. It was amazing, and afterward he texted me saying that what had happened that day was really beautiful, that it had been an incredible way to relax, and that it had filled him with positive energy.
Things kept progressing. We opened up to each other, and in my opinion, it went far beyond flirting or something casual. We were genuinely happy together, and you could tell he felt the same way. One example: we'd spend two hours cuddling and kissing in bed, then he'd get up because he had to leave, only to say, "But I want one more kiss." :)
The only "issue" was that during the third time we had sex, he lost his erection. He told me he had a lot on his mind, couldn't relax, and was nervous about disappointing me. I told him he didn't have to prove anything to me, that I loved being with him, and that we'd just try to help him relax. He sincerely thanked me, and we moved on.
Then, about a week ago, everything changed. He took me out for dinner, and afterward we spent a long time kissing in the car, holding hands, and cuddling (he had no problem getting an erection just from that). Then we went back to my place. We had amazing oral sex, but when we were about to have intercourse, the same thing happened again.
This time, though, he said he didn't feel butterflies in his stomach anymore and that he didn't feel passion or excitement. Right there, in my bed, he ended things with me. It was a huge shock.
The next day we talked, and he opened up completely. He told me that he had been filling out the divorce papers that very day and had cried while doing it. He said he doesn't actually want the divorce, that he desperately wants his wife to come back so they can be a family again. He told me that almost two years ago, she said she didn't love him anymore, didn't want to be with him, and had already been seeing another man for quite some time—but he still hasn't given up hope.
He also told me that he didn't feel the same way with me as he had felt with his wife when they first got together 16 years ago, so he thought there was no point continuing. He didn't change his mind and walked away.
So my question is: was he telling the truth when he implied that he just wasn't attracted to me? Or is the real issue that he was emotionally unavailable because he still wasn't over his marriage?
Thanks for your thoughts.

OP posts:
Mum2Fergus · 17/07/2026 10:43

It’s irrelevant. You’re unlikely to ever know the truth…so move on.

Inmyuggs · 17/07/2026 10:48

Dont go there.
Let it go, messy stuff.
Look for someone available not comparing you to life 16yrs ago for a start.

ComtesseDeSpair · 17/07/2026 10:49

I don’t think it matters which - but somebody who isn’t divorced, is still living with his wife, and has a young child was never going to be fully available in any sense. I doubt it was that he didn’t find you attractive and more that trying to have sex when he clearly still feels all kinds of unpredictable emotions about the end of his marriage and what comes next and then knowing he’s going home to his wife who he still wants to stay with and his child after having sex with you just isn’t very sexy and passion-inducing.

Life can be difficult enough - don’t make it more difficult for yourself again by dating men in complicated situations bringing all their baggage with them.

Fiendishandfiery · 17/07/2026 10:57

He didn’t say he wasn’t attracted to you ? He said he didn’t have the same feeling as he did his wife and didn’t have butterflies, which is very different, it’s emotional.

being the rebound is seldom going to work out, he doesn’t see a future in it, it isn’t about you or him, sometimes it just doesn’t work;

CheeryGreenBear · 17/07/2026 10:59

Thanks. It's just that I had no idea he was that messed up. If I'd known, I'd never have given it a chance. He knew I wanted a relationship one day, I told him. I fell in love with hime and now I'm heartbroken and thinking 'I just wasn't enough'.

OP posts:
Sameshitdifferentdaymonthyear · 17/07/2026 11:04

Did he really text after having sex with you and say it was a nice way to relax? That would have been the end for me. He can relax by reading a book or going for a walk, not having sex with you.

Seaoftroubles · 17/07/2026 11:10

OP, he wasn't transparent with you, you never knew the full story. Please don't try to over analyse him, he was clearly still not over his wife and child and wasn't truthful about his situation. Now realisation has hit for him and he is back pedaling fast.
I'm sure he was attracted to you but his inability to have full sex showed the true story in that he was still emotionally attached to his wife. No reflection on you, he should have been honest with himself and with you from the start.
Move on, stop beating yourself up and have some counselling for yourself if you think it would help you.

CheeryGreenBear · 17/07/2026 11:11

Yes, he did. And he wrote more than just that in that text. I thought it was sweet.

OP posts:
OriginalSkang · 17/07/2026 11:13

Men his age don't generally come out of long term relationships and immediately want another. They want to sleep around and will tell lies if necessary to enable that

Don't bother with anyone in future who is less than a year out of a long term relationship

CaffeinatedSeagull · 17/07/2026 11:13

You are ‘enough’ @CheeryGreenBear but not for him in this moment.

He sounds like he has a lot of things to work through and needs to decide what he actually wants. He clearly wasn’t ready to start dating.

Try not to be hard on yourself.

saveforthat · 17/07/2026 11:15

Sameshitdifferentdaymonthyear · 17/07/2026 11:04

Did he really text after having sex with you and say it was a nice way to relax? That would have been the end for me. He can relax by reading a book or going for a walk, not having sex with you.

That stood out for me too. 😃

istherereallytimeforallthat · 17/07/2026 11:19

CheeryGreenBear · 17/07/2026 10:59

Thanks. It's just that I had no idea he was that messed up. If I'd known, I'd never have given it a chance. He knew I wanted a relationship one day, I told him. I fell in love with hime and now I'm heartbroken and thinking 'I just wasn't enough'.

Of course you were 'enough' but the problem is that he was never free to have a proper relationship in the first place. He was still living with his wife and child, and never mind him not telling his dc, his wife probably didn't even know they were separating either. You were strung a line I'm afraid, and he used you. Sorry, but you were just a fling as far as he was concerned.

ForPinkDuck · 17/07/2026 11:19

Yes its gross, he sees spending time with you as a pass time.

ForTipsyFinch · 17/07/2026 11:20

I know this doesn’t really help now, but one of my non negotiables is that I never ever get involved with a man who is going through a divorce or living with an ex.

it will lead to drama no matter what.

CaffeinatedSeagull · 17/07/2026 11:21

OriginalSkang · 17/07/2026 11:13

Men his age don't generally come out of long term relationships and immediately want another. They want to sleep around and will tell lies if necessary to enable that

Don't bother with anyone in future who is less than a year out of a long term relationship

^ This is really solid advice, and I’m saying that as a man,

I broke up with my Fiancée last year, and though there’s a part of me that wants to get out there, knows deep down that I’m not 100% ready for a LTR yet. There’s a lot that aren’t truthful with themselves about that out there too,

MixedBouquets · 17/07/2026 11:23

ComtesseDeSpair · 17/07/2026 10:49

I don’t think it matters which - but somebody who isn’t divorced, is still living with his wife, and has a young child was never going to be fully available in any sense. I doubt it was that he didn’t find you attractive and more that trying to have sex when he clearly still feels all kinds of unpredictable emotions about the end of his marriage and what comes next and then knowing he’s going home to his wife who he still wants to stay with and his child after having sex with you just isn’t very sexy and passion-inducing.

Life can be difficult enough - don’t make it more difficult for yourself again by dating men in complicated situations bringing all their baggage with them.

Edited

Exactly this. It doesn't matter, fundamentally. Just don't ever put yourself in that situation again, OP. I mean, the guy told you upfront he was still living with his wife and a child (I'm assuming from your unwillingness to state the child's age, a very young child) who hadn't been told they were separated, and that he wasn't up for a serious relationship. Most people would have walked away right there.

MixedBouquets · 17/07/2026 11:25

CheeryGreenBear · 17/07/2026 11:11

Yes, he did. And he wrote more than just that in that text. I thought it was sweet.

It's not remotely 'sweet'. It equates having sex with you with all the other things people commonly do to relax. It focuses on his own physical state not the fact that he just did something intimate with another person he supposedly valued. It's deeply unromantic.

Slightyamusedandsilly · 17/07/2026 11:28

He said he wasn't ready for a serious relationship.

He wasn't. Too soon.

sunseasand25 · 17/07/2026 11:36

CheeryGreenBear · 17/07/2026 10:59

Thanks. It's just that I had no idea he was that messed up. If I'd known, I'd never have given it a chance. He knew I wanted a relationship one day, I told him. I fell in love with hime and now I'm heartbroken and thinking 'I just wasn't enough'.

This is not about you not being enough. There are some people that have no business dating and he is one of them.

however if this is a pattern for you (going for men who are in some way unavailable) counselling would help

sorry you are in pain, it’s horrible when this happens

Coralsunset · 17/07/2026 11:38

I’m sorry you are sad, but this is why you don’t get involved with married men. 💐

Fiendishandfiery · 17/07/2026 11:40

CheeryGreenBear · 17/07/2026 10:59

Thanks. It's just that I had no idea he was that messed up. If I'd known, I'd never have given it a chance. He knew I wanted a relationship one day, I told him. I fell in love with hime and now I'm heartbroken and thinking 'I just wasn't enough'.

Oh yikes, two months, 8 weeks is far too short a time to fall in love with someone , sure there are rare occasions that happens foe both. But it’s rare. this is a man you have known literal weeks and is not much past a stranger. And rhe whole “enough” thing is disturbing.

thays not how relationships work op. It is not about being enough, it’s about two people with a shared chemistry, sharing life goals. Getting to know one another. It is never about being enough. That sounds needy and clingy.

you need to take time to get to know people. Spend time together, evolve. It’s not all holding hands and shagging.sayinf some nice words for a few weeks.

i think take some time out to understand why you were declaring love literally weeks in, when he was clearly not feeling it. That’s a lack of communication. A lack of understanding and two people in very different emotional states.

whippersnapper55 · 17/07/2026 11:43

I'm sorry you've been hurt but look at it as a life lesson - never get involved with someone who's in the middle of a break up! You were a nice distraction for him from his stressful situation, I'm sure he enjoyed being with you but the reality is, he has a wife and child who he is still living with! You just don't want to get in the middle of that.

moderate · 17/07/2026 11:50

was he telling the truth when he implied that he just wasn't attracted to me

I don’t see that implication anywhere. This seems like a simple case of someone who wanted to be over his wife but wasn’t. Perhaps that’s what “relaxed” meant — at peace with letting her go. With loss of erection when he didn’t feel that way in the moment. 16 years ago he didn’t have this emotional complication and he’s read too much into this. Don’t make the same mistake! This is no reflection on you.

Havenhelpus · 17/07/2026 12:04

CheeryGreenBear · 17/07/2026 10:59

Thanks. It's just that I had no idea he was that messed up. If I'd known, I'd never have given it a chance. He knew I wanted a relationship one day, I told him. I fell in love with hime and now I'm heartbroken and thinking 'I just wasn't enough'.

“If I’d known…”

You did know, but for some reason you decided to overlook it and carry on.

He was still married, not divorced yet, still living in the family home, hadn’t told his child, openly said he wasn’t looking for a serious relationship - all of these things clearly indicate that he wasn’t a good prospect.

You can spend your time ruminating on why he ended it or you can spend time working on why you even went on a first date with someone in his situation.

CheeryGreenBear · 17/07/2026 12:43

Thank you guys. I stand by what I said about his marriage - it's definitely over. He didn't lie about that. I don't even think he lied to me when we first met, when he told me he was available. I believe he wanted to be...but realized he was not. I just miss him. He's a super kind and sweet man and he was honest with me. I know it's my fault that I started seeing him, but you know - if I give it time, if I give him time... and I honestly had no idea that he still loves his wife and his biggest wish is to save his marriage no matter what.

OP posts:
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