Advice in dealing with cake-eating behavior

[allyg8r]

OMG, the most AMAZING thing just happened.

So H walked in the door again to "pick up some stuff". No phone call or text beforehand of course. Good thing I had completed my packing up of his closet and putting it by the door. I came downstairs and showed it to him - like TA DA, here it all is - I even packed your brown shoes, PJs, and ties (all things he kept leaving behind). He kept staring at me like I had lost my mind. I again calmly told him that he was not respecting my boundaries by not calling or texting me before he came over. He got miffed again and said as long as he was paying half the rent, he would not be respecting my boundaries regarding the house. So I said "Great! I'll pay the rent!" Again he looked at me like I had just beamed down from another planet. He was incredulous. He kept questioning my ability to run the house - "don't you want me to come by and pay the bills?" "Nope, I'll pay my own." "What about mowing the lawn?" "I can figure it out or I'll give some money to a neighborhood kid to do it." I almost went and looked in the mirror to see if I had grown another head based on the way he was staring at me. He asked me what was up with my weird mood. (I was smiling and acting like him moving his stuff out is the highlight of my week - and in actuality, it kind of is.)

After that, he tried to change tactics. He kept asking for a hug. Then a "friendship" hug. I told him I had enough friends. Eventually he just came over and made me hug him. I gave him the OK-buddy-you're-creeping-me-out hug. He asked if I had any curtains he could borrow. I said nope, the ones I have are up on the wall. I got the feeling that his condo doesn't have any blinds. Hahahahahaha!

Then I sat on the stairs and watched him take his stuff out to his car. Mainly to make sure he didn't take anything he shouldn't, but also for the pure pleasure of seeing him finally move out with a big frown on his face. He asked if he could take one of the dogs for a night. I said hell no, plus he'd be seeing both dogs over Thanksgiving. He doesn't have the cojones to just show up and take them while I'm not here. For one, he wouldn't put them in his new car, and for two, I've let him know I'd call the cops at that point.

Then as he closed the door, I gave him a huge smile and waved. I will never ever forget the look on his face. I'll get the house key from him after Thanksgiving. He won't hand it over before the end of the month anyways.

Calling his bluff might be the single best thing I've done thus far. He's worried.