Home→Forums→Relationships→The pain of loving someone you can't have.→Reply To: The pain of loving someone you can't have.
SpinBunny,
You say “I should point out that he has never gone beyond the boundaries of friendship and probably doesn’t really know how I feel about him. I think I have become swept away with the chemistry and fantasy but I have seen an ugly side so I don’t have him up on a pedestal.” Just curious, what is this “ugly side” of him you refer to? Do you mean the fact he has (in my opinion) crossed some boundaries in your professional relationship? Or is there something more?
I personally tend to be a bit more on the conservative side when it comes to these types of relationships, but it would seem to me that things have crossed beyond professional “friendship” (you are a client and you are paying him for his services, I don’t really see that as friendship). The fact that others have picked up on this and his comment that you have some sort of worldly connection to me is inappropriate. Why are you texting each other anyway? Doesn’t the gym have a business phone number you can call to make appointments? The fact that you text and he’s “thinking of you” already hints to me that this is more than a professional relationship and it would cause me to have similiar thoughts as you are.
That said, I completely agree with Emma and yogabunny that his relationship is HIS to manage. I have a strong aversion to the term “homewrecker” because it places the blame for a relationship breakdown on an outside person who has made no commitment to honor. Sure, it may be morally murky territory to enter a relationship with someone who was involved with another (hypothetically, I know you stated you are not looking to do that), but the heart wants what the heart wants. If he’s interested, he should man up and end things with his girlfriend respectfully. Otherwise, maybe he’s just a big flirt? Either way, I would proceed with caution.
If you’re truly looking to get over this but don’t want to give up his PT services, start setting more clear boundaries. Stop texting, limit conversations of a personal nature (if you’re working out hard enough how do you even have time to talk?), don’t linger after appointments, stop socializing with him. A simple “Thanks, see you next time!” and out the door. I think more than anything though, be honest with yourself regarding what you want. You’re not an evil person if you want this man. Don’t torture yourself either way.