I (30F) and my boyfriend (52M) have been together for 9 years. This is an obvious age gap relationship. I know to some it’s uncomfortable to some, but we just clicked. I never intended on being with someone so much older than me, it just happened and overall we’ve been so happy together. Plus, my family loves him. Anyway, about 3 years in, I presented trying an open relationship. I was very much willing to not pursue it, I was just interested in exploring other people. He was immediately on board. I will call myself Lucy, and refer to him as Rich.

Rich found a partner shortly thereafter. I found out later that he would tell her, “I’m sorry, you have to leave, Lucy is coming home and she’s not going to want to see you here.” He always used me as an excuse to get her out, even though I wouldn’t be coming home. I would travel about an hour away to stay somewhere since I’m so far from friends/family. I was definitely not going to just drop in. Once he told me this after he finally cut ties, I was angry. I told him it was very unfair to me. If she was “clingy” and romantically interested, he should have cut it off. She thought I was crazy and possessive since he always used my name as a cop-out, and eventually why he couldn’t see her anymore. He didn’t really grasp it, but promised it would never happen again.

He found a 2nd partner about 6 months ago. She’s a very pretty girl, also 30 years old that he works with him at his second job. Let’s call her Jess. We’ve actually always wanted a threesome, and she is also bi, so it was perfect. We had her over one night, and we were all drinking. I got way too tipsy to partake in anything, so I passed out on the couch. Rich and Jess ended up having sex, which was fine by me. I know this circumstance seems to break our rules, but it was a different situation. I was perfectly okay with that. I was stone cold passed out so it didn’t bother me; she doesn’t drive so it’s not like she could have just left, anyway. They had their fun and she took an Uber home in the morning. She woke me up to let me know she was leaving. I walked her out and let her know I’m looking forward to seeing her next time. I talked to Rich later that day and we laughed about me getting too tipsy. He said he would like to have her over again, but this time he hopes I stay awake. Fast forward two weekends, she’s at our home. She ends up taking a bath first, while Rich and I wait on the bed for her to come out. She eventually does, but he did not pay attention to me. They started engaging, and I had about 2 minutes where they were both in a position that I could jump in. After that, I just stood and watched. About 20 minutes later, Rich needed a break. While we were laying next to each other, Jess said she was going to head outside to smoke. Rich pulled Jess on top of him and started kissing her passionately. I was confused. I said, “hun, I think Jess wants to go outside.” But he completely ignored me. After that they started to engage in sex again, and he had her in positions that I could not join in yet again. After seething with anger, I finally decided to go to bed. I felt incredibly pathetic and excluded. The worst part was I had to go back in the room about 10 minutes later, realizing that I has forgotten my phone on my dresser. They were still going at it, with Jess face down. Rich looked up at me and I looked at him with what I can only imagine were daggers. I fell asleep, angry and bitter. His 6am alarm goes off for work and I wake up foggy. Once everything came rushing back to me, I realized that he continued to have sex with Jess one whole hour before coming to bed. He didn’t stop once to check on me, despite seeing how angry I was. I left the house, unsure what to do. Rich called me and asked me to come home to talk. When I did I told him I was furious at him for completely excluding me. At first he apologized, he said he never meant to make me feel that way. I told him he broke my trust and ruined my self esteem. Due to this, I didn’t want us to continue our open relationship. Trust is the biggest foundation, and he managed to ruin it in an 3 hour span. He became defensive, and said it was unfair that I’ve slept with 4 people and he has only slept with 2. I was not keeping count for either of us, it didn’t occur to me. He stated I can’t just start something and then close it at my convenience. He is conventionally handsome, there are most likely women in his life right now that would want to sleep with him, but he said he is oblivious and doesn’t know when someone is interested. I even offered to keep the relationship open just on his side to “even the score,” on the condition he doesn’t see Jess. He declined, stating no other women want him. I told him no deal, then. He called me a hypocrite and said it was unfair. He did say he would stop seeing Jess, but only because it was inconvenient for him to drive her back and forth 45 minutes, and doesn’t want to play taxi. This was 4 weeks ago and I’m just as bitter. Yesterday, he asked what was wrong and I expressed my unhappiness, still. He said he can’t handle this because his auto immune disease flares up when he gets upset, and it can land him in the hospital. He totally disregarded my mental health. A part of me thinks he is right and that I’m being selfish. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

TL;DR my boyfriend ignored me during a threesome, I want to end our open relationship that I initially suggested because of what happened and he thinks I’m in the wrong

Edit: With all due respect, I’m not seeking advice on the age gap. As stated in my first paragraph, I know it’s not for everyone. Please be respectful of that. Thank you.

25 comments
  1. I can’t even begin to imagine dating someone the same age as my parents 🤮🤮. (I’m 29)

  2. Keeping score is something 18 year olds do, not 50 year olds.

    Now you know why he wouldn’t date within his own age group.

  3. It’s really dangerous to turn your self-esteem over so entirely to another person that they can “ruin” it like this? That being said, this is a question for a different sub that has to do with open relationships/etiquette/expectations.

  4. I think only redditors living the same lifestyle as OP can comment. Others may look into this as gross.

  5. Why do you still want to be with him? This would be grounds for a breakup for me.

    > He ignored you in a threesome to rail another chick. Can you even call it a threesome?

    > He’s keeping score of how many other people you two sleep with. Wow. On top of that, after ignoring you in what was supposed to be a threesome and he just fucked another woman, destroying your self-esteem in the process, he complains about how it’s “not fair” to close the relationship because of his actions.

    > He refuses to acknowledge your feelings and mental health. He refuses to put in the work to make things right and make you feel better.

    Dump his ass.

  6. You’re not wrong. Being open, hounst and having trust in each other is paramount to having an open relationship. If there is no trust or respect for the rules that were laid out – it won’t work.

    If you guys agreed to a 3some that means that all 3 parties are involved. Not 2 with one left out completely and feeling awkward.

    As for you being with 2 more people then him – if it was all within the rules laid out, it doesn’t matter.

  7. Your boyfriend clearly only sees women as something to put his dick in. Hes shown this with you and his two other partners, he just doesnt give a shit. He doesn’t want anything more from them than sex.

  8. In what part of this arrangement is he being considerate of your feelings? Because I’m not seeing it.

    He’s pulling the “but my mental health” card without giving the slightest pause to contemplate how yours is.

    Part of the reason that open relationships aren’t so common is exactly what you are experiencing – emotions get hurt when we feel we aren’t a priority in the relationship. It’s so easy for boundaries to be crossed.

    Hon, you can do better. He’s not the prize you think he is.

  9. This entire relationship is a shit show, why do either of you bother? From what you’ve described here there is absolutely nothing about it worth saving, it’s just disfunction piled on top of self interest.

  10. I don’t know what open relationship means, as far as I’m aware that means you are both free to explore other people?

    You wanted an open relationship you got one, wanted it closed and got it.

    Is there something else you want him to do?

  11. Do you think women his age put up with his behavior? I wonder why he pursued a 21 year old…

  12. As you’ve found out the hard way, open relationships generally don’t work. Consider it a lesson learned and move on.

  13. You deserve what you put up with. If you don’t think you deserve it then don’t put up with it. You don’t keep a guy just because a your family loves him. That’s a cop out lame excuse.

  14. 43 and 21? JFC. He sounds like a man child but you need help too. Grotesque doesn’t begin to describe that situation.

  15. YOU wanted an open relationship so what is this shock and surprise at what usually happens in open relationships?? Fuck around and find out. Your boyfriend’s a creep but you did this to yourself.

  16. I myself could not be in an open relationship or a threesome. But that is besides the point. You both decided to engage together in a threesome where he and she proceeded to have sex while excluding you. You showed your partner you where unhappy and uncomfortable. He and she kept going, for hours.

    Now even though I prefer a more standard relationship, what your partner did and is still doing… is crossing YOUR boundaries! That’s it that’s all that matters. He has hurt you and is making no steps to help or fix it. It’s all about him.

    Leave him. Heal. Then hopefully find a partner who will respect you, your relationship and boundaries.

  17. Sounds like a “Thank you, next!”

    Hopefully your next partner won’t IGNORE YOU IN BED, threesome or no. And the way you describe it, it was just a twosome both times, which he could have engaged in on his own without IGNORING YOU.

    He was rude and inconsiderate. Actually, now that I think about it, it sounds on purpose…why have a threesome and then just ignore your partner, especially when you have a pass to sleep with the person on your own? WEIRD.

  18. Literally everything about your relationship sounds like a disaster. All you can do is move on and hopefully learn something for the future.

  19. Come on, ffs. He’s twice your age but yeah, you just clicked and he so clearly respects you as an equal partner. He showed you in extremely vivid colour where you stand. You do with that information what you will.

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