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AIBU?

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My DH “ran into” his ex

406 replies

Erras · 16/09/2025 19:36

Hi, so DH and I have been together for 5 years, married for 3 and have a 22 month old daughter together.

On Saturday DH took our toddler to visit his friends in London, when he got home he told he he’d ran into his ex, in the train station (a very big and busy central long station), he told me that he stopped and had a coffee with her. They broke up 6 or so years ago, she doesn’t live in the uk and like I said this was a massive station so I already find the probability of that being an incidental run in being very low (but then I’m always highly suspicious of coincidences). He still follows her on instagram etc.

I asked why he stopped for coffee and he said that he didn’t really know why, he just wanted to catchup with her and see how life had treated them. I don’t why but it makes me really uncomfortable that my daughter was there for this conversation. He told me that they probably chatted for about an hour or so, she had just arrived in London so was in no hurry and the trains to our town are pretty frequent so he wasn’t really clock watching.

I let it go as I didn’t really want to cause an argument and I felt like I’d been irrational.

Then tonight he left his phone on the counter and I saw her name flash up, I asked why she was messaging and he told me that they had spoken about some films/songs/books and she had just sent a list of recommendations, he offered his phone for me to check this myself.

I told him that I do trust him but I find him being friendly with his ex makes me quite anxious. He said he understands and that he wouldn’t say they are friends just someone he ran into following up and n part of the conversation, but he thinks after this time and me being the one he married and had a child with he feels that if he did want to be friends with her he should be able to. I asked if he wanted to be her friend and he told me that he wouldn’t be against both of us meeting up for wine with her and her partner or going to see a film together. He told me that there are some hobbies he shares with her (Foreign language films, philosophy, tennis, F1) that he doesn’t share with me and while that doesn’t mean he wants her or doesn’t love me it’s just that we are both allowed to have hobbies which the other doesn’t share and as long as we do have some joint hobbies it shouldn’t be something I feel threatened by.

None the less I really don’t feel comfortable with him being friends with his ex. In some ways I think it’s because I have low self esteem and feel like she is more attractive, more intelligent and more fun to be around.

I’ve asked my friends and they seem split on if I’m being unfair or not.

AIBU to A) doubt that it was really an incidental run in and B) not be comfortable with them being friends.

OP posts:
WhiskyintheJarr · 16/09/2025 19:44

Yeah I’d be phone snooping.

Shortdaysalready · 16/09/2025 19:43

I'm sorry OP but it sounds almost certainly a pretty arranged meeting.

I think that they obviously are still very interested in each other and that there has been a lot of messaging etc between the two.of them that he has kept from.you.

He has two very young children. His focus should be on you - his wife and partner in life- and his children. I think you really need to talk to him about boundaries as a married man.

Monster6 · 16/09/2025 19:42

I ran into an ex at a mutual friends wedding, once I was with my current partner. For some reason or another I ended up with his number in my phone (lifts/car pick ups something. Can’t remember) my point is…the minute I woke up I deleted it. I knew it was hurtful, I knew it would be strange, and could even be a temptation. THAT is what you do. He is married to you, and none should get in the way. Your hubby should not be doing anything to make you question him.

Erras · 16/09/2025 19:41

nomas · 16/09/2025 19:38

Based on their messaging and his desire to see her again, I’d say it was a planned meet up. Sorry, OP.

Yes, I feel deeply that way too. I just find it unlikely he’d happen to run into her in St Pancras station and have an hour to spare for coffee when she doesn’t even live in the uk anymore and he seldom goes into London. He claims it was totally incidental though.

OP posts:
NorthernMum2021 · 16/09/2025 19:41

I would feel similar. I think I would be honest that actually I'm not comfortable them being friends, no matter how unreasonable that makes me. If my DP said the same to me, I'd respect his feelings and not pursue a friendship with an ex if it made him uncomfortable, even if I thought it was unreasonable for him to feel that way.

nomas · 16/09/2025 19:38

Based on their messaging and his desire to see her again, I’d say it was a planned meet up. Sorry, OP.