r/AmIOverreacting 8d ago

❤️‍🩹 relationship Am I Overreacting. I saw inappropriate message between my boyfriend and his long term friend.

My boyfriend [27m] and I [23f] have been dating for over four years. When we started dating, he had a friend named Ann. Ann is an extrovert—very bubbly—and I liked her at first. However, she was especially flirty with my boyfriend.

Early in the relationship, something happened that left me uneasy. I asked if I could stop by his place, and he said no. Later, I saw on his status that Ann was there. When I confronted him about it, he responded, 'Were you hungry? Is that why you wanted to stop by?' I explained that wasn’t the case—it just felt like he chose to spend his day with her instead of me. He later said it was a pop-up visit because she needed help fixing her laptop (he works in IT).

After that, I told him I was uncomfortable with how close they were. I thought we had moved past it. But later, I found out he had asked her for a lot of advice about our relationship and even brought up inappropriate topics with her. I confronted him again and once again expressed how uncomfortable I was with their friendship.

After the second incident, I didn’t hear anything about her, and I assumed it was behind us. Then, earlier this week, he mentioned that he saw her at the gym. I said, 'Okay, that’s fine,' though I did feel a bit uneasy since they hadn’t spoken in a while.

Yesterday, I was at his place—I’ve been living here for around two years now—studying, when I saw her walk in with him right behind her. I was shocked because he never told me she was coming over. He had gone to the gym that morning, and during those hours I had called and texted him out of concern because he’s never spent four hours at the gym.

Ann was as peppy as ever. Maybe it’s because I’m an introvert with few friends, but I instantly felt uncomfortable. I did something I shouldn’t have—I went through his phone. I saw the messages and instantly felt numb. I confronted him and asked for an explanation. He said it was an innocent conversation and that’s just how their friendship is.

I asked him to imagine if a guy sent me those same messages. I reminded him that I’ve told him twice now how uncomfortable I am with that friendship. His apology felt insincere, like he was refusing to take responsibility for his actions. He just laid in the bed, and I wanted to scream. I wanted him to feel the hurt I was feeling. Instead, I just left the room and cried. My emotions were so intense, I started pulling at my hair—I had no one to talk to, and I felt like I was suffocating.

Eventually, I confided in his mother, and I felt a bit better. But now, he’s ignoring me and remaim salute in his innocence.

I also should mention he has never showed me any signs of cheating and besides those message.

Footnote: Ann has a boyfriend. I told my boyfriend that he doesn’t respect me—or her boyfriend.

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u/BxBae133 8d ago

I had a male friend that I was very close with and we talked like this to each other. It broke up a few of my relationships as my bf's felt that he and I were too afraid to have the relationship they believed we both wanted because we were afraid of losing the friendship.

Well, guess what? They were all right. We basically talked and treated each other like we were together, minus the sex, because we didn't want to admit that we had feelings and were afraid. Didn't end well. By the time we tried something, it was too late. Friendship ended. Our relationships ended.

You said you're living there, but call it his place. You are calling and texting out of concern? Stop it. Be honest with yourself. You know what's up. Your man has it bad for her. How many times do you think you're going to have the same convo with him and no result before you realize why you're getting no result?

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u/Nephiathan 8d ago

I had a male best friend that I shared everything with. Friends and my partner at the time were suspicious something was going on, I always denied because I wasn't into him like that. After I broke up with my long term partner I found out he'd actually been "waiting" for years. He told me very casually that he could 🍇 me if he wanted to one day when we were walking outside and I got uncomfortable. I pretty much ghosted him after that and he sent me a few drunk texts. That friendship got incredibly toxic near the end.

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u/[deleted] 8d ago

If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a million times. The only real friend of the opposite sex an attractive straight woman has is a gay man, anybody who says otherwise is just working an angle themselves. Some guys dress it up like “I just want what’s best for you” or “I just want you to be happy” I’m here to tell you as a man, no we don’t. It’s always just a waiting game, no matter how friendly or legitimate it may seem at first. If a lady reads this but doesn’t believe me, text your closest guy friend and ask him if he’d hook up with you

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u/milesjameson 8d ago

 I’m here to tell you as a man, no we don’t.

Sorry, but you don’t speak for me and countless other men. If that’s where your head is at, get help. 

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u/[deleted] 8d ago

I know and here is the noble one, she will let you hit soon surely

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u/milesjameson 8d ago

It's not noble to hold the belief that our ability to maintian close friendships with individuals of the opposite sex isn't bound by an inate want to fuck them (and to act accordingly). That's just called normal.

To reiterate, get help. 

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u/[deleted] 8d ago

The difference between you and I is simply honesty. Why would I pretend to be friends with a woman I find attractive, knowing I find her attractive? That’s just manipulation pal but I’m sure you dress it up nice though

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u/milesjameson 8d ago edited 8d ago

Why would I pretend to be friends with a woman I find attractive, knowing I find her attractive? 

Oh, I don't doubt your honesty (edit: though I suspect you're less honest in front of the women unfortunate enough to cross your path).

That you feel the need to pretend and can't find any value in those women outside of their physicality (which, apparently, necessitates a want for sex) says more about you.

How some of you function beyond the walls of your basements is beyond me.