Update:

Original text is deleted cause I’m getting some weird messages now.

Thank you everyone for all your input, whether you were court and to the point (doesn’t matter how the truth is served, just that it is) or whether you heard me out. I have my reservations about dating exclusively and just taking marriage-minded guys at their word from some of the decades long marriages I’ve seen firsthand, my parents included (who have been married nearly 30 years) and because of my past LTR (certain things only became apparent after 3 years of being together and many talks about marriage but certain unseen behaviors that didn’t align with who he initially presented himself to be).

I have already ended things with guy 1; I’m going to focus my energy on guy 2, but make sure that I’m being mindful of any red flags that may present themselves.

When I initially posted here, I now understand that I was falling prey to the idea that I “knew” guy 1 better because I had been seeing him longer than guy 2 which from his response to me ending things, was untrue. He responded just as someone who is stringing someone along should. I will also admit that sleeping with him clouded my judgement, especially as someone who is typically able to make logical decisions that aren’t based off of emotion. I let him occupy too much of my time once his evasiveness became apparent.

Ultimately, I need to not assume the negative aspects of the decades-long marriages I’ve seen and be true to myself. It’s not fair to the honest man who’s been intentionally pursuing me for me to project those things onto him. I have no problem admitting I was wrong, and I will say it: I was wrong. Thanks for helping me realize that.