A communication pattern that left me constantly confused

I don't know what made me think of this but there was a pattern in my ex-husband's communication that used to drive me absolutely nuts.  Now that I have healthier interactions with family and friends around me, I realize how incredibly toxic this pattern was.  And it is so wonderful to not have to experience it anymore.

Whenever he told a story (even mundane day to day stories) or tried to explain his thought process on something, there would be significant gaps in the story that made it very difficult to follow what he was saying or understand him.  I would ask follow up questions or sometimes even pause him mid-story because I had no clue what he was talking about which would just make him so irritated with me.  My mind was always in a state of constant confusion as I tried to piece together the few pieces of the puzzle he would give me.

And then he would criticize me for asking too many questions as if it was my fault he was leaving out key details.  I always wondered if he expected me to be able to read his mind.  But maybe there was something he gained by keeping me confused.