If you don't wanna read all the way to the bottom: here's the main point of the story.
Over Halloween weekend, I walked into CVS for construction paper and glue. Instead, I found the guy who had told me we were exclusive just two days before with his "ex" girlfriend from Colorado in matching punk rock costumes.
Got your attention? I'll start from the beginning.
I met this guy on Bumble and while I usually am extremely hesitant to meet up with any guy I meet online, I agreed to meet up with him.
We'll call him D and he was quite literally the most attractive person I had ever seen. He's a strength coach and had the body of a freaking Greek god.
To say I was infatuated would be an understatement.
The first time he came over I waited up for 3 hours for him to finally get there, and when he did get there, he promptly left to go take shots with one of his friends. He assured me he'd "be back in about half an hour" and me, being naive, stayed up and waited until he did, eventually, come back.
That right there should have told me to drop him, but he was handsome and smooth and had the kindest eyes, I didn't want to let go before anything had actually started.
We hung out, hooked-up, and went on a few dates over the course of about 2 months.
However, it was always on his terms.
Being a girl, I did some social media stalking and found him exchanging quite a few Facebook posts and Instagram likes with a girl referred to here as "A."
He had recently asked me about my ex, so I thought instead of asking him "WHO THE F**K is this girl??" that I'd ask about his recent ex.
He told me that he had dated this girl the past summer, and they had been friends but really didn't talk anymore. He said things didn't work out well with them and that she lived out in Colorado.
The same night, when I asked him if he was seeing anyone else, he told me no, and that I was the only one he had any interest in.
That's where the head of this story comes in.
Like I said, Halloween weekend I walked into CVS and saw him, with the "ex" from Colorado, standing right in front of me in matching costumes.
He looked at me with zero remorse in his eyes, and the girl was paying no attention. I walked out of there, without buying anything, and drove home crying.
I wasn't upset that I knew things were over or that he had a GIRLFRIEND. I was upset that he had lied, over and over and over to me, when I had given him a million chances to tell me the truth and to tell me if he was seeing anyone else.
I told him I was fine with a friends-with-benefits situation, or being nothing at all, and he never corrected me when I told him I liked him.
I've done some more social media stalking, this time on "A's" profile and found they went on a mini vacation over Christmas break, and have a Vegas weekend booked for just the two of them.
Countless times I've thought of reaching out to her and telling her what this guy she loves is doing to her.
I have no idea if she doesn't know, or if she does and just doesn't care. The thing is though, it's not my place to be the one to tell her what he's doing while he's away. He should be man enough to fess up and to be sorry for hurting two strong, beautiful girls.
I don't know this girl, but I hope for her sake that she sees the bad in him, and realizes she can do better.
Being the side-chick is bad, but being the main girl, cheated on over and over is worse.
Obviously, if I would have known, I never would have pursued anything with him. He made me more cautious, and less willing to jump into things with guys, which is something I needed.
If D gave me anything positive out of this bad situation, he gave me the reassurance that I deserve so much better than a guy who just knows the right things to say, but doesn't know the right way to act. He taught me that kind eyes don't mean a kind heart and that I deserve someone who treats me great.
Most of all, he taught me it's better to be in no relationship at all, than one that makes you feel like second best.
