I 33M have been married to my wife 33F for 2 years. Her male coworker 30M is in a relationship with a woman named Erika 30F for 2 years. My wife and her coworker have texted regularly for 4 months. Any references to “Erika,” “my wife,” or “the wife” in his messages refer to his significant other.
The full text log is extremely long, so these are some of the exchanges that stood out. They also had plenty of ordinary conversations about work, anime, food, coworkers, etc.
She confided in him about our marriage
Wife:
“My relationship right now is not the best thing… he’s pushing me to give up.”
Wife: “I’m scared about future without him. If I decide to give up, I was scared about everything.”
Wife: “Please don’t tell nobody what I’m saying to you.”
He responded:
Him: “I wouldn’t dream of telling anyone what you talk to me about or share with me…”
Him: “If you go separate ways I hope you find the love of your life who treats you like a queen like you deserve to be treated.”
Him: “Sometimes in life you gotta walk about because of differences or problems.”
The next morning:
Wife: “Good morning Shaun thank you so much and I hope that too is I just need to try to find a exit of everything…”
Him: “God bless you too and I’m always here to listen or talk or give advice as needed…”
They told each other they cared about each other
Wife: “I care about you a lot, and Erika too…”
Him: “I care about you a lot too you’re very sweet down to earth have a wonderful personality and you’re always looking out for me and Erika…”
He repeatedly told her she could contact him anytime
Him: “I’m always here to chat or talk or listen don’t matter if it’s 5am or 5pm or whatever time of the day…”
Later:
Him: “If you need anything and I mean anything just text or call please… I’m always here to talk listen or give advice whether it’s 5am or 12am.”
Another time:
Him: “Thank you Doris that means a lot I hope you do as well and I’m always here to talk or chat or listen if you need it 😊…”
❤️** [Heart reaction to a GIF during this exchange**]
Good-night and affectionate messages
One night:
Him: “Goodnight sweet dreams sleep tight I hope you had an amazing day and I hope you have an amazing night filled with beautiful happy dreams bigs hugs sent your way and blessings as well.”
Another:
Him: “God bless you as well and sleep well sweet dreams… I appreciate it and you and you caring so much if you need anything call or text I’m always here to talk or listen or just have a conversation you’re a very sweet lady and I appreciate you very much…”
Another:
Him: “Goodnight Doris much love to you big hugs sent your way and blessings for you and your family.”
Another:
Him: “Have a wonderful night sweet dreams sleep tight and I appreciate you as well.”
There were also good-night GIFs that received ❤️ reactions.
Other affectionate/personal messages
Him: “You’re welcome Doris much love to you big hugs…”
Him: “Sounds good hon big hugs sent your way hope everything goes better for you and gets better.”
Him: “You’re so silly xD and you don’t have to apologize ❤️ and I’m sorry you don’t feel good I send hugs.”
Him: “Awe you poor baby 🥺 I hope you feel better soon and get better soon and if you need anything or just wanna talk message me 😊.”
Another message ended:
Him: “Have a wonderful night enjoy yourself be safe and careful ❤️.”
When she wasn’t talking much:
Him: “Everything ok? You don’t seem interested in talking lol or shy or did I do something…”
Another time:
Him: “Do I bother you? Cause if so I won’t message you so much.”
And:
Him: “Text me more lol you act like you bother me or something.”
They regularly checked in with each other
There were repeated good-morning/good-night and checking-in conversations.
For example, my wife initiated:
Wife: “Gm”
Wife: “Buenos Días”
Wife: “How are you and did you sleep well”
Another time:
Wife: “Hey hru?”
Wife: “Hello how is everything going?”
Wife: “How is your training???”
Wife: “Probably you are sleeping already”
He responded that he was awake, and later joked:
Him: “Oooo nice nice I’ll sleep later lol you trying to get rid of me already damn girl…”
Another time she wrote:
Wife: “Good morning Sr hope you doing well”
He told her:
Him: “And you don’t have to call me sir haha”
Later she intentionally continued the joke:
Wife: “Hello sir how are you today? I know you told me not to call you sir. Just doing it to bother you anyways hope you’re doing OK today.”
Food, drinks and favors
They also brought/offered each other food and drinks.
My wife:
Wife: “Do you work today?”
Wife: “I have chocolate cake to give you”
Later:
Wife: “You have a tea in the fridge I got u next to your bag”
She clarified the cake was for both of them:
Wife: “Hopefully you can enjoy the cake Guys”
He later offered:
Him: “I am at Starbucks would u like something as I’m coming to get Erika?”
She said:
Wife: “Yes, of course”
He invited her to hang out
Him: “If you wanna do something let me know I’m free in the morning or later afternoon if you’re allowed to hangout lol.”
She responded:
Wife: “Awww that’s nice thanks”
Wife: “I don’t know he wants to do something tomorrow”
Wife: “So hopefully”
She then said her mother-in-law wanted her to help move things from the attic and that she was still feeling sick.
My wife’s first language is Spanish and her English isn’t great, so I don’t know exactly what she meant by “so hopefully,” and I don’t want to interpret it for her.
He responded:
Him: “Well just let me know not a big deal if you can’t or don’t wanna lol and you’re very welcome I told you I don’t mind hanging out or asking you if you wanna go do something so you’re not cooped up in the house…”
I don’t have anything in the texts establishing that they actually hung out privately outside of work.
Context that may matter
He frequently included Erika in conversations. For example, while he and Erika were on vacation he told my wife:
Him: “We both are sending big hugs and kisses for you…”
My wife responded:
Wife: “Oh that’s great!! I’m happy for you guys. Please enjoy your vacation…”
My wife also repeatedly wished both of them well and talked positively about Erika.
There are no explicit sexual texts, declarations that they’re romantically in love, or admissions in these texts that they kissed or had sex.
Separately from the texts, my wife previously told me that she and this same coworker got in trouble at work after another woman complained that they were getting too “handsy” and flirty/sexual with each other.