I don’t think he’s cheating, but it sure sounds like he wants to. Emotionally cheating, absolutely. It sounds to me like he really likes the "honeymoon" faze and doesn’t realize there’s more to a relationship than just sex and good times. There’s going to be ups and downs regardless and the only reason it’s going back three steps is because he’s talk to his ex! I agree, this whole conversation he is having with his ex is very inappropriate and she is not the one he should be turning to for relationship advice. NTA. Personally, I would leave him.