Ha! Val it Is manipulation and I do recognize it trust me. It is why I have been questioning things lately. It's the last hurdle so to speak.
Today h and I did activity perfectly fun and no expectation. I commented on what a great time I had without anything else being in the room ( like any physical tension or flirting ). H mentioned he had great time as well free of expectation.
He said he was sorry that date didn't work out. I said date was a nice guy and would make Some mediocre woman very happy. H looked at me and I said "I may be a lot of things but mediocre? is not one of them" He agreed
So i could have manipulated tonight. I did not. H knows I am off to Boston meeting up with some people I met online. That's the extent ( since we have kids and they know)
Xgf wrote h a dear John letter from other country. Had found a new bf in that country and now they are living together here. H tells me this. I say simply that everyone comes into your life for a reason. You learn lessons and move forward or you repeat the lesson until you get it. I also added thAt inft sorry for xgf. Which , I actually do.