<human>: I (20/f) was in a relationship for a year and half with my ex (21/m). He cheated on me: he had sex a few times with his ex-girlfriend from high school and lied about it. He recently started confessing the truth. Its been about 3.5 weeks since the split, I spoke to him yesterday.

He said he did not like her and it did not mean anything, but the temptation was too much. He says that I am the right girl for him. He wants to try again and sees us getting married and being happy, but he insists that first just needs time to be single and change to be a better person, so he can be more ready to commit to me.  

So, reddit: 

1. Is he just stringing me along to keep me as a option/pining for him?
2. Is it plausible to say "hey, we work well together, and I love you and want to marry you, but I want to be single for a few months because I am not ready?"

OR is he just a master manipulator?

Condense the text into a few key points
<bot>: He was cheating on me, I found out and we broke up. He wants to separate for a few months, be single, and then try out the relationship again when he is ready to commit. Is he stringing me along?