He was not my boyfriend, so I'm now unsure of what to call him now that he's... more not. When we were... thingy... I referred to him variously as my "
gentleman companion," my "male
consort," and my "umfriend."
umfriend n. Term one uses in public when introducing a person with whom one is intimate, but with whom one has not yet discussed relationship status with.
ex. "Mom, this is my... umfriend... Josh."
I feel that I should acknowledge the
no-more-ness of our umfriend status, somehow. But to call him my "ex" implies the -boyfriend that he never was. It would feel wrong to say ex-lover, since we were never in love. He is still a
companion, still a friend. But no longer a consort. I am at a loss for words. Perhaps, in honor of the infinitely cliched way he put it in his email, he is now my "justfriend."
Now I just have to ignore the fact that he hugs me a little too long; finds excuses to kiss my cheek.