c/attachment·Posted by u/marcus_quinn·1h ago

Does anyone else test people to see if they'll leave, then regret it after?

Saturday I told my girlfriend I might skip her cousin's birthday dinner, even though I'd already said yes and I like her cousin. I said it from the kitchen while she was chopping onions, casual, like I was just tired. I wasn't tired. I wanted to see if she'd get cold or if she'd still want me there. She got quiet, then said "okay, I'll go alone." That was the opposite of what I thought I wanted. I backpedaled so hard I sounded drunk. Ended up at the dinner, smiling, feeling like a jerk in a nice shirt. I keep doing smaller versions of this — being late on purpose, going dry in texts for an afternoon — then panicking when they don't chase. I know it's ugly. I still do it. Anyone else catch themselves setting traps and then hoping the other person doesn't fall in?

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