21. She Can't Commit
Oh boy. We're not looking to open up some age-old battle of the sexes here, but we will say one thing: the old clichés really are true. Women look for commitment, and men couldn't run away faster if their balls were on fire. We're big kids at heart, us men, and the idea of just playing with one toy for the rest of our lives just doesn't seem right - especially when there's an infinitely big Lego set out there.
That being said, there are some men who are more than happy to settle down and say those magic words. If you're one of those, and your partner is being unfaithful, you're going to find that the tables are turned. Cheating women have no interest in the long-term anymore, and clearly they don't see a future with you. If she can't or won't talk about commitment, then there's something clearly wrong.
22. You're Seeing Less And Less Of Her
Whether you're living together or not, quality time in a relationship is important. You should be able to hang out at any time of the day or night, and plan spontaneous outings without it being a huge deal. Otherwise what's the point of having a partner? Of course people have their own lives, but you've got to make room for that special someone in your life.
Maybe she's refusing to see you when you've both got a weekend free. Maybe you spend your Netflix nights alone these days, waiting for her to walk through the door. Maybe you can't even really reach her on the phone anymore. There'll be excuses and vague promises, but the writing's already on the wall - she'd rather spend her time with another hunk.
23. She Gets Defensive
Some of our tips here we've learned from painful life lessons, but this particular one we picked up from Law & Order. Criminal suspects aren't too different from cheaters, really - they're just breaking hearts instead of windows. Sometimes we actually wish we had Detective Goren sorting out our love lives so that we didn't have to!
Anyway, the Law & Order Theory of Cheating goes like this: there are two types of suspects, the guilty and the innocent. When cross-examined, the innocent always get angry, and the guilty always get defensive. Now, we're not suggesting that you start grilling her under a hot table lamp here, but if your simple questions start to get wildly defensive responses, it could be time to start turning up the heat.
24. If You Smell A Strange New Scent On Her, She Might Be Straying
There's two ways this can play out. Either she's wearing a new perfume, or she's picked up the light scent from another man. Neither of them are good news. The first, like new clothes, is a sign she's ready to start flirting again. The second is even more obvious: it means that she's actually been close enough to a guy for him to rub off on her. Let the mental images begin!
It really is a dead giveaway, so it's kinda unfortunate that it doesn't happen as much as it does in the movies. First off, she's not going to be bathing in that guy's aftershave, no matter how much she likes him. Secondly, it requires the nose of a police beagle to even tell the difference most days. Still, keep a nostril out for any changes. And if she starts smelling like weed and burritos, marry her.
25. She No Longer Wants To See Your Family And Friends
Anyone who's been through a bitter split after a long relationship will know one thing: it's hard to choose sides. There's friends of hers that you like and will never see again. Her brother kinda likes playing video games more with you than her. And let's not forget the fact that you met through a mutual friend, who now has to divide their time between the two of you.
Breaking up is hard - that's what we're basically saying. When a relationship melts down, your family and friends are caught in the crossfire. Often they have to take sides, or try and console both parties, or are simply witnesses to some uncomfortable secrets. No-one wants to involve the people you love into things like that, so if she's pulling away from them, it could be a hint that she's ready to split.
26. She Doesn't Care Anymore
On the flipside from constant nagging and picking at what you do wrong is the other, equally scary extreme: she can't even be bothered commenting. Any time men get together, you'll hear the same old story: my wife is always nagging me, or my girlfriend gets angry over the tiniest stuff. I forgot to be at the birth of our baby and she was weirdly furious - that kind of thing.
But try to imagine the opposite, if you can. What if she didn't care at all? What if she didn't even raise an eyebrow at your antics, or just stayed quiet when you came home drunk and pooped on the floor? In a way, the only thing scarier than an angry woman is a silent woman, because that means her mind is on other things. She's probably already moved on.
27. You're The Clingy One
This is the ultimate vicious circle of relationships: the more insecure and clingy you get, the more they'll pull away, and the more you'll try to hold on. It's the delicate balance we all face, especially if we're confronted with the thought that they might be cheating. If you're insecure, they might back away and start actually cheating. If you're not, they might think they can walk all over you.
Sounds confusing? You're not wrong. You could be the manliest man and the most independent punk in the world, but you're still vulnerable to desperately clinging on to love. Basically, you've got to watch your own actions this time, and listen to your brain. It's the one making you clingy in the first place, because it knows, deep down, that there's something wrong in the relationship.
28. She Keeps Going Missing
How long do you wait before you should start to worry? If you listen to the fake cops in Hollywood, it's 48 hours. Ask a rock star and they'll tell you it's somewhere around the two-month mark. Ask your mother and she'll probably say 10 minutes. The point is that there's no hard and fast rule - if you haven't seen your girl in a while, you'll just have to listen to your heart.
Of course, if you haven't seen her in a month you can safely assume that it's over. Even if it's just a few days at a time with no word and no explanation, it's still looking a little suss. Not that you have to know where she is at all times. But if she's the type that's glued to her phone, and you're not getting any of the updates? Put up those "Missing" posters.
29. If She's Nagging You Non-Stop, Something Might Be Up
TV shows and movies are guilty of perpetuating one pretty silly myth: that after the first few dates, every woman becomes a shrill, nagging harpy who's forever trying to replace your mother. But the truth is that women really aren't that bad. Considering how much stupid stuff guys do, they really put up with (and stay silent about) a lot of crap.
It's not unusual for anyone to try and get their partner to stop being an idiot all the time, but if that nagging reaches epic proportions, that's a worrying sign. She doesn't hate you, but she has had enough. She's found someone else that is pushing all the right buttons and none of the wrong ones, and that nagging is her way of building up an argument to break up with you.
30. When She Seems To Be Preoccupied, She Might Be Thinking About Someone Else
Once in a lifetime, a woman will come along who seems like she's just perfect for you. Even when the honeymoon period is over and you've stopped desperately lying about yourselves, you still find out that you have so much in common. That you love the same stuff, and could talk about everything for days on end without coming up for air.
Nowadays, though, that woman has changed. You still love all the same stuff, but when you talk about it it's almost as if she isn't in the room. You could bring up the latest season of GLOW and she'd still mumble something incoherent and stare into space or tap away at her phone. So what's changed? She's got other things on her mind, that's what. And she won't tell you about them because it'll crush you.
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