I need to stop that I know! I'm just tired of giving him so much leeway to come up with lame excuses about where he has been and why he is late or why he didn't answer
Yes, you must stop calling him like that. The more you pursue him--the more lame excuses he is going to give.
Leave him alone. Give him the space and freedom he wants and focus on things you want to do without him. You don't have to have him to go to the movies, etc. Get a friend and go have some fun.
It is not about what you feel should work in your M. It is about doing the work that gets the right results. Do what works!