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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:
Ezzee · 19/07/2026 15:33

CheeryGreenBear · 19/07/2026 12:19

'not feeling it' is the hardest thing for me to hear. If only he'd said anything else - you're a pain in the ass, you're boring, you're not attractive... you see, if there had been some kind of a 'flaw', at least I'd know what I was doing wrong and I could learn a lesson or change my behaviour or I could tell myself he's an idiot... not feeling it is something that you just can't argue with. And he knows it. I just can't imagine myself spending two months with someone who I have absolutely no feelings for.

Edited

You don't need to change OP, you did nothing wrong, you are not a pita, boring or unattractive so please try to push that from your mind.
He is an idiot, he isn't kind blahblah he is married regardless of the situation in his head ... hence the ED, his body may have been ok the first time but then his brain took over = non working cock.
He's a headffuck!

JJkate · 19/07/2026 17:33

CheeryGreenBear · 19/07/2026 14:37

Thank you. I also don't think this is fair. My point is that if you don't feel it after two months, you probably never did. And that's the part I can't imagine - you know from the very beginning the person doesn't stand a chance, yet you keep seeing them anyway.

Edited

Exactly. And you feel it, when someone does this and ends it in this way. It's absolutely not the same as casually seeing someone for a bit.

Fiendishandfiery · 19/07/2026 17:37

CheeryGreenBear · 19/07/2026 14:37

Thank you. I also don't think this is fair. My point is that if you don't feel it after two months, you probably never did. And that's the part I can't imagine - you know from the very beginning the person doesn't stand a chance, yet you keep seeing them anyway.

Edited

No he never did. As he didn’t know you eight weeks earlier. When on earth would he have felt it.

He was attracted to you, wanted to get to know you, excited, like everyone who starts to see someone. But thays all. Once he did, he decided the chemistry wasn’t there for him and that’s ok op, it isn’t about you. Two people sometimes work together, but often don’t.

are you genuinely saying you’ve never ever had a relationship that’s lasted a short period of time before snd you ended it? Because before I met my husband I had loads.

fivepastmidnight · 19/07/2026 17:45

he told you "he was still living with his wife and that they had a son under 10), . He said he wasn't ready for a serious relationship. " He hasn't misled you in any way just because you let him know you wanted a relationship You knew at the start you were incompatible. You have over romanticised things all this sitting on park benches /kissing for hours doesn't really matter. He ended things. There's no point overthinking it .when somebody tells you they're not ready for a relationship you've got to take them at their word. You want him, he wants his wife, neither of you are going get what you want.

JJkate · 19/07/2026 17:46

Fiendishandfiery · 19/07/2026 17:37

No he never did. As he didn’t know you eight weeks earlier. When on earth would he have felt it.

He was attracted to you, wanted to get to know you, excited, like everyone who starts to see someone. But thays all. Once he did, he decided the chemistry wasn’t there for him and that’s ok op, it isn’t about you. Two people sometimes work together, but often don’t.

are you genuinely saying you’ve never ever had a relationship that’s lasted a short period of time before snd you ended it? Because before I met my husband I had loads.

I think you're missing the point. The point is not that two people dated a short while, one wasn't in to it and ended it and the other is heartbroken because they were overinvested. The point is, he has behaved as someone who really really was into it and then all of sudden has ditched this woman. It's dishonest, bad behaviour and a common tactic deployed by users.

Fiendishandfiery · 19/07/2026 17:48

JJkate · 19/07/2026 17:46

I think you're missing the point. The point is not that two people dated a short while, one wasn't in to it and ended it and the other is heartbroken because they were overinvested. The point is, he has behaved as someone who really really was into it and then all of sudden has ditched this woman. It's dishonest, bad behaviour and a common tactic deployed by users.

I’m not missing the point, I get that, but the man’s allowed to change his mind. He didn’t propose marriage, it was 8 weeks!

JJkate · 19/07/2026 17:50

Fiendishandfiery · 19/07/2026 17:48

I’m not missing the point, I get that, but the man’s allowed to change his mind. He didn’t propose marriage, it was 8 weeks!

It's not about changing your mind. It's about the way you behave and message you give people. Someone knows when they've been had.

Fiendishandfiery · 19/07/2026 18:27

JJkate · 19/07/2026 17:50

It's not about changing your mind. It's about the way you behave and message you give people. Someone knows when they've been had.

Oh my, he will have behaved as he was feeling at the time. Like most people in a new relationship, excited, hopeful, thinking it could work, enthusiastic. But that changes, and relationships end, when you realise no, you don’t feel excited by them.

you and the op must be rare breeds who have never had short relationships. It’s utterly bizzare to think you go into them and act disinterested, no one does that.

wrongthinker · 19/07/2026 18:39

Fiendishandfiery · 19/07/2026 08:10

Are you posting on the wrong thread, he didn’t lie cheat or blame it on her, he said he wasn’t feeling it which is fine. If he’s not he’s not.

What thread are you reading? He said he couldn't get his dick hard and it was OP's fault that he didn't fancy her enough. Also he lives with his wife and child. Doesn't take a genius to work out he's full of shit.

CheeryGreenBear · 19/07/2026 19:21

Fiendishandfiery · 19/07/2026 18:27

Oh my, he will have behaved as he was feeling at the time. Like most people in a new relationship, excited, hopeful, thinking it could work, enthusiastic. But that changes, and relationships end, when you realise no, you don’t feel excited by them.

you and the op must be rare breeds who have never had short relationships. It’s utterly bizzare to think you go into them and act disinterested, no one does that.

And that changes in a second? The last time we saw each other, we had a lovely date. We walked hand in hand and spent six hours together before he rejected me while we were naked in my bed. He was still caressing my breasts as he was telling me he wasn't feeling it😀

OP posts:
Bunny65 · 19/07/2026 19:23

CheeryGreenBear · 19/07/2026 19:21

And that changes in a second? The last time we saw each other, we had a lovely date. We walked hand in hand and spent six hours together before he rejected me while we were naked in my bed. He was still caressing my breasts as he was telling me he wasn't feeling it😀

Well that was really horrible of him. You are well rid, it's not your fault. Some people are just plain weird and there is no point trying to make sense of it.

Fiendishandfiery · 19/07/2026 19:53

CheeryGreenBear · 19/07/2026 19:21

And that changes in a second? The last time we saw each other, we had a lovely date. We walked hand in hand and spent six hours together before he rejected me while we were naked in my bed. He was still caressing my breasts as he was telling me he wasn't feeling it😀

Wel, that’s horrible then.

CheeryGreenBear · 19/07/2026 20:00

Fiendishandfiery · 19/07/2026 19:53

Wel, that’s horrible then.

Yes, it is. And it also makes me think that the problem wasn't his lack of feelings. The problem was his embarrassment about his ED, and he jumped to the conclusion that it would be better to end things there. Not because he didn't like me, but because he wasn't willing to go through those ED problems again. That's the only explanation that makes any kind of messed-up sense to me.

OP posts:
Mumlaplomb · 19/07/2026 20:03

He is likely to come back OP, don’t give him another chance as he will just mess with your head.

CheeryGreenBear · 19/07/2026 20:07

And maybe his feelings were the problem after all. If he'd just been casually fucking around, I don't think he would have had those issues.

OP posts:
CheeryGreenBear · 19/07/2026 20:09

Mumlaplomb · 19/07/2026 20:03

He is likely to come back OP, don’t give him another chance as he will just mess with your head.

I'd only give him a second chance if he realized that what he did was wrong and hurtful and got his wife out of his mind. It's been 14 days today... I don't know if he's ever coming back. I'd like that - but only under the conditions I mentioned above.

OP posts:
BuckChuckets · 19/07/2026 20:37

CheeryGreenBear · 19/07/2026 20:09

I'd only give him a second chance if he realized that what he did was wrong and hurtful and got his wife out of his mind. It's been 14 days today... I don't know if he's ever coming back. I'd like that - but only under the conditions I mentioned above.

You'd be a fool, sorry!

CheeryGreenBear · 19/07/2026 20:40

BuckChuckets · 19/07/2026 20:37

You'd be a fool, sorry!

He's made zero effort to come back so far, so I'll deal with that if it happens.

OP posts:
MsPavlichenko · 19/07/2026 20:50

CheeryGreenBear · 19/07/2026 20:09

I'd only give him a second chance if he realized that what he did was wrong and hurtful and got his wife out of his mind. It's been 14 days today... I don't know if he's ever coming back. I'd like that - but only under the conditions I mentioned above.

Rather the waste more of your time on this chancer ( you only know what he told you, and it could all be lies ), why not look at why you found yourself so vulnerable, why you accepted it, and why you are wasting time considering what to do if he comes back ( when he may tell more lies ).

Why not look at helping yourself, getting support online and in person to ensure you don’t put up with shit like this again.

EvieBB · 19/07/2026 21:01

CheeryGreenBear · 19/07/2026 12:19

'not feeling it' is the hardest thing for me to hear. If only he'd said anything else - you're a pain in the ass, you're boring, you're not attractive... you see, if there had been some kind of a 'flaw', at least I'd know what I was doing wrong and I could learn a lesson or change my behaviour or I could tell myself he's an idiot... not feeling it is something that you just can't argue with. And he knows it. I just can't imagine myself spending two months with someone who I have absolutely no feelings for.

Edited

He's probably just mortified that his bits aren't working so he's blaming you to deflect his own insecurities. Honestly it's nothing to do with you and everything to do with himself. Like you say, why would he have to spent 2 months with you if he wasn't feeling it??

Frillysweetpea · 19/07/2026 21:29

CheeryGreenBear · 19/07/2026 20:00

Yes, it is. And it also makes me think that the problem wasn't his lack of feelings. The problem was his embarrassment about his ED, and he jumped to the conclusion that it would be better to end things there. Not because he didn't like me, but because he wasn't willing to go through those ED problems again. That's the only explanation that makes any kind of messed-up sense to me.

Edited

Good that you are not blaming yourself any longer, @CheeryGreenBear

wrongthinker · 19/07/2026 21:44

CheeryGreenBear · 19/07/2026 20:07

And maybe his feelings were the problem after all. If he'd just been casually fucking around, I don't think he would have had those issues.

Oh yes, that's always the problem with these men. He just liked you too much. He couldn't handle his feelings.

Come on, OP. If he liked you, he would have treated you well and not blamed you for his ED and dumped you to boost his ego.

You can bet he'll be back at some point, if only to get a dose of you treating him like the god he thinks he is. Then he'll dump you again. Rinse and repeat.

He's made it clear he is not a good person. He's not even single, or in a position to start a relationship. You'd be better off giving up fantasising about him and thinking more about yourself and why you're willing to entertain him at all.

BibbityBobbity2 · 20/07/2026 03:39

CheeryGreenBear · 19/07/2026 12:19

'not feeling it' is the hardest thing for me to hear. If only he'd said anything else - you're a pain in the ass, you're boring, you're not attractive... you see, if there had been some kind of a 'flaw', at least I'd know what I was doing wrong and I could learn a lesson or change my behaviour or I could tell myself he's an idiot... not feeling it is something that you just can't argue with. And he knows it. I just can't imagine myself spending two months with someone who I have absolutely no feelings for.

Edited

I don’t believe he’s “not feeling it.” He got embarrassed by his erectile dysfunction and this was a way to make it your fault. Because he’s a narcissist. He knew he was going to have to end things at some point because he never had any intention of leaving his wife, and the point you became aware that he had ED was a good place for him to exit the scene he was always going to have to exit while making you feel it was about your failings not his. There is nothing good about this man, I’m sorry if he made you feel there was but it was all an act.

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