The great affair love triangle

Greetings! First time poster… I’m in a love rut and looking for advice. Pour yourself a stiff drink (its always 5 o’clock somewhere) and hop aboard my love affair mess.

Right off the bat-- I became the ‘other woman’ almost 2 years ago. I met him through my sis and her husband. We were both in their wedding party. They have absolutely no idea.

During the first year-- it was total emotional and physical between the two of us. Great conversation and sex. He was able to come and go as he pleased, wife had no idea.

Things were good for about a year-- then shit hit the fan. Wife became suspicious and was given a heads that her husband was not up to any good. Ups an downs ensued from there.

We ended it for about 3 months. I threw in the towel and told him to work on his marriage. 3 months after that-- he contacts me. Things picked up from where we left off.

About 4 or so weeks in, his guard goes up. He becomes distant and I called him out on it. He said its nothing with me. 2 months after that, he said he needed space. I gave it to him and went about my merry way. He reaches out to me 8 weeks later and we were good for about 12 weeks although his guard was still up. During these ups/downs, it was general friendly chit chat. Honestly, we only saw each other maybe 2 or 3x.

How are you doing on this rollercoaster ride so far? Holdin’ on strong? Have you used your puke bag yet?

During June, he was pretty silent. Found out from him at the end of June, they were planning on divorcing. A week later, they were back together and trying to make their M work. I said okay and I backed off. He told me he still wants to remain friends. He started to sporadically text me then we were back to the everyday texting, but no physical contact. I told him if its too much texting me, then tell me. He said I can text anytime. Its not an issue. He’s responds to them also and he’s not ignoring me.

My sister, who I know them through, dropped a bomb on me the other day. Turns out, they have a huge family issue that’ll break up his wife’s family as it involves wife’s brother. MM doesn’t get along with wife’s family as it is, and with this happening-- my sister pretty much said there will be no ties with her brother involving MM and the kids.

On top of that, I found out during the time he ended it with me, him and her actually went on a break.

So last night I was talking to him…he told me because of boundaries he put up can’t involve me with this family issue (he doesn’t know I know).

He sounds like a jackass, right? Honestly–he really isn’t. He’s in a place that no father wants to be in. Let me say that.

Right now I’m torn and not sure what to do. Knowing the mess he’s in, I feel bad totally breaking it off. He said that talking to me doesn’t screw up him trying to make his M work. I think otherwise. I know I need to take a step back, but IDK. How do I do that? Just not respond to him? Don’t initiate first texts? I already blacklisted him so I am not tempted to text him.

Do I tell him I can’t do this with his guard up? Honestly–that is whats killing me. Once he put it up for whatever reason (I’m thinking issues at home/marriage), there was a missing connection between us.

From those who’ve been in an A (I won’t judge)–whats with the back and forth with him? Just stringing me along for conversation? Its not like we’re even intimate. I’m flabbergasted with that as well.

Its easier said than done to drop a person like a bad habit when you have feelings for them.

I’m in a cluster f* myself and need to vent…so sorry…

He does reach out to me and ask how my days been, etc.

Also–what do I do to be a friend in this rut and get him to lower his guard? Just be there for him as a friend? Is there any possible way to be just a friend?

Is he as confused as me?

Stop fucking married men.

That’s the best advice you’re ever going to get.

Just a warning to you that these boards are generally very unsympathetic to people in your situation.

You said he’s not a jackass, but he really is: He had an affair.

My recommendation is to cut ties off completely. No texts, nothing. Your history and attraction is such that any communication will lead you down that path. The first months will be hard, but it will get easier. You’ll be much happier in the long run without the endless drama and jealousies this relationship will bring.

Long story short, you’re both confused. That time off completely to get a better perspective. I think that you know what the answer is, really, but posting gives you hope that someone will validate staying with him. It also frees you to find a more worthy companion.

You both sound like complete assholes, stop talking to him.

I think The Tortoise and the Scorpion should be required reading. The version with the scorpion telling the tortoise ‘you knew what I was when you met me’.

I am always amazed at the number of women (sometimes men too but more often women) who want to have a relationship with a someone who lies and cheats.

He has already shown you what he is, believe him.
He lies, he cheats, he shuts you out when he doesn’t need you. He has no respect for himself, his wife, his marriage, or you and your feelings. He wants to be friends when it is convenient for him. He’s too much of a pussy to stand up and tell the truth and either leave his marriage or make it work.
How can you possibly have respect for him?

This is an easy one, very obvious you don’t want to hear the truth.

No, but I did throw up a little in my mouth.

I’m wondering, does the OP entertain, at all, the thought that maybe, just maybe, she might have done something wrong here? If not, there’s nothing I can say that would have any meaning.

You both deserve to be beaten with hammers. =/

Break it off & go find your own, unattached guy. Drop the turd & move on.

" Turns out, they have a huge family issue that’ll break up his wife’s family as it involves wife’s brother. MM doesn’t get along with wife’s family as it is, and with this happening-- my sister pretty much said there will be no ties with her brother involving MM and the kids. "
I have no idea what this means.

She can’t handle the truth!

I was expecting the responses here, I really was. People make mistakes. I didn’t wake up one morning saying “Oh, I want to get involved in this.” Was it my decision- yes. Am I in the wrong? Absolutely. Did I think it would escalate to this? Never.

The truth? That he’s using me for ass/side piece? I’m not even putting out. I don’t even offer. What else is the truth? He doesn’t care about me or my feelings? He has me where he wants? I’m a homewrecker? I’m letting him walk over me? I’m a doormat? I’m just there for convenience? I’m hoping for a better outcome?

If I’m not even putting out or offering-- then whats his purpose for talking to me? To just string me along?

I do have guilt for my part. It just sucks having to lose someone which we started off as friends. I’m not sure where we went wrong and the boundaries are crossed.

Leaffan- basically- his brother in law told him that he has a sexual attraction to his 3 kids. He’s disgusted, and appalled. His wife told him his brother can ‘get help’ and in the future see the kids. He said absolutely not ever again (at least he has decent judgment there) and won’t attend any family functions that his brother in law will attend. His wife still wants a relationship with her brother. Pretty screwed up, huh?

BadNewsRibbon- thank you for the kind words. Its not easy, and I agree- we both are confused. The few months we weren’t talking after I ended it, I did surprisingly well. Then he came back. I need to grow a backbone and just tell him no. Do I just break ties, or do I tell him we need to?

I don’t know what this means. Is he a boxer?

As someone said up thread, you came to the wrong place if you want much sympathy for your situation.

Ignoring the betrayal of his wife and family issue, it sounds to me like you’re his friend with or without benefits at his convenience. So, there’s an obvious imbalance of power, so to speak, in your relationship. And what you’re going through is, in a normal, non-adulterous relationship, is called a “break up”.

“We’ll always be friends.” is nice to say. It’s difficult to make work. In the long run, it’s less painful to just rip the bandaid off, not ease it off slowly. I think you should cut off all contact with him and accept that whatever you had, it’s over. Yes, it’ll hurt. If you don’t dwell on it, it’ll get better.

Heard of an emotional affair? He’s putting all this hope and emotion and effort into reaching out to you, instead of actually either working on his marriage, or working on ending his marriage in as respectful a means as he can.

You can, if you want, tell him it’s over. But all that will do is open the dialog again.
I think you want that, deep down. A part of you gets off on the drama this mess is making.

Why is he writing you? Possible reasons:

  1. It opens up the dialog to free sex later.
  2. He needs someone to emotionally drain with all his problems.
    Here are the cold hard facts.
    You both fucked up.
    He is not a good friend. He sees you when it’s convenient or needs something.
    You are not a good friend. Despite your saying so, you want more than friendship.

Block him out of your life and mean it.

Jeff-- I am not looking for sympathy. I got myself into this mess.

I agree- there is an imbalance, and what we had is over. It was over after last year after his wife found out. I threw in the towel then. Looks like I have to do it now and this time stick to it.

Ferret- I doubt its an emotional affair. I thought about that though. He won’t open up to emotionally after last year. I know the issues going on, but he won’t divulge. I hinted, but he just says family issues.

I don’t know why the convenience friendship? What good does that do for him? Am I a bandaid to his marriage?

Damn…that’s rough.

Based on what you (the OP) is saying here, it seems to come down to a choice of a) continue to kid yourself that you’re just friends, it would be cruel to cut him loose when he’s got so many personal issues, yadda yadda; or b) find another way to live your life that doesn’t require the involvement of a married guy who you have presented as indifferent to your feelings. With, btw, three kids.

Your choice. Good luck.