Is texting another woman emotional cheating

Hi. Me and my partner have been together for 3 years and we have two beautiful children together. I recently started college and met a girl in my class. We were older than the rest of our class so we naturally started talking. She added my number and said she'd give her a couple of people's number so we can all be in a group chat.

Long story short I was waiting for my partner to finish college. Feeling a bit lonely I got the text about everybody else's number. I started talking to her about games and my children. I told my partner about it and she was really upset and said I cheated on her by texting another woman. I genuinely didn't know this was cheating but I realised and admitted to my mistake and I told her I only wanted to be friends with her since we're older than the rest of the class and I really didn't know.

After I haven't text her at all and I only talk to her if we're in groups. In the past I've mostly been really good friends with girls and one of my best friends is a girl. I just want an unbiased perspective from people about this situation because she's said she's lost feelings for me and I had no intention of destroying my family.

I don't think that would fall under emotional cheating off what you said happened but maybe your GF is worried if you continue to privately text it might lead to that. Is this other woman in a relationship too or single? if she has a BF couldn't you and your GF and her and her BF meet up and have dinner, coffee so everyone could meet each other and everyone knows everyone and no wondering. If your GF says NO way then that is the end of that.