Inappropriate Text?

[nepenthe]

There's a guy I had a crush on (long distance, have yet to meet) and we'd been mutually flirty over the Summer, but he got together with another girl early this Fall. We haven't talked as much but over Christmas he texted: “Happy holidays precious little jewel.” It seemed strange considering his new relationship and I know the girl thinks he loves her. She's actually pretty obsessive over him. Was this text loaded / inappropriate or am I reading too much into it? Wondering if I should even reply.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[bunnyhabit]

I think was a very sweet greeting to let you know that you are still very special to him. just because he is dating local doesn't mean she has his heart could be purely for physical release opportunities. you should question him why you are still his precious little jewel if he offed you lately. ignore his squeeze unless he ups her in convo. draw out his feelings for you to platonic or romantic. perhaps you have his heart and she has his body only.

[elderberry_24]

I think that is certainly inappropriate to a degree. Perhaps not the holiday greeting itself, but “precious little jewel”? Regardless of whether or not the girl he’s dating actually has his heart, it is incredibly unfair to both you ladies for him to say affectations of that manner to you. It sounds to me borderline unfaithful (in an emotional-affair type of way, which is still a form of cheating in my book), and it also sounds like he’s at least considering taking you both for a ride just so he can keep his options open - have his cake and eat it too, so to speak. It’s one thing to keep you as a friend, it’s another thing entirely to just keep stringing you along because he knows your interest in him.