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Husband denying crush on woman at gym despite messages

112 replies

Vickiii88 · 24/10/2025 22:11

First of all I know people will probably disprove of me looking at someone else’s phone but I felt I had no choice because any time I’ve tried talking to my Husband about this he has dismissed me and shut me down as being ridiculous.

I’ve had suspicions he has grown close to someone at his gym for a while. It’s a national chain, quite cliquey with lots of classes etc and regular socials.

I’ve been suspicious because 1. I’ve seen this woman’s name flash up on his phone on several
occasions and he has been vague when I’ve asked about her, 2. A friend who goes to the gym attended the same class as them once and said they were very tactile and 3. He has been increasingly dismissive of me to the point of rudeness/snapping.

The messages go back months, this is one of the early ones:

‘Friend’ (F) and Husband (H)

F: Why haven’t you been on any of our nights out yet, they are not always at gym name you know? Next Friday is at X
H: Is that an invite then?
F: You know you are always invited
H: Will be odd seeing you not in your gym gear 😂
F: I can scrub up well you know
H: I don’t doubt that
F: Bit cold at the moment to be all dressed up, I need my layers 😂
H: Just wear your usual leggings then 👀
F: Oh yeah
H: Probably be a bit chilly in your sports bra mind
F: Yeah true

Another as recent as two weeks ago, which he instigated:

H: Do you feel like the classes have been a bit off recently, instructor name seems so abrupt
F: I was literally saying this earlier
H: Might start going to the later class where it’s a different instructor
F: What, and miss seeing me? 😂
H: You’ll join me, you know it’s not the same without me
F: Yeah when you were on holiday I did miss our chats after
H: Feel like all the extra classes are paying off and I am feeling fitter
F: yeah you are
H: Not quite at your level yet though 😂
H: I don’t think I’d squeeze in to some of your outfits
F: Oi 😂 sure I could find something you could squeeze into
H: As long as there’s no photos for evidence 😂

I told H I had seen these and he said they are completely innocent and clearly two friends having a joke, and that I’m paranoid/suspicious for no reason.

My mind is going mad, would you be annoyed if your H had sent these?

OP posts:
Gingernessy · 25/10/2025 16:15

Oxo01 · 25/10/2025 13:54

Both as bad as one another, both want to go further.
I would ask him/ her if they would like to fit their face in my fist. But im not tolerant of what i see / feel as shit behaviour friends or otherwise.

Violence isn't the answer though is it - shows people as weak usually.
Maybe a conversation about what's causing the snapping would yield better results

Gingernessy · 25/10/2025 16:12

Bigtreeesss · 24/10/2025 22:19

It’d be a ltb for me

You'd leave your partner for him having a female friend and making jokes about going somewhere other than the gym in gym gear?

Seekanddestroy · 25/10/2025 16:01

Seems like bants to me, but of low level flirty chat…probably a bit flattered with the attention & he’s rising to it

Oxo01 · 25/10/2025 13:54

Both as bad as one another, both want to go further.
I would ask him/ her if they would like to fit their face in my fist. But im not tolerant of what i see / feel as shit behaviour friends or otherwise.

OlympicProcrastinator · 25/10/2025 13:32

The bar is so low and women tolerate so much. I would absolutely end my marriage over this. If they haven’t fucked already they want to and they will.

Id leave them to it.

Highlighta · 25/10/2025 13:15

Yes it's inappropriate, but he knows it so will try to fob you off as if it is nothing.

As per some pp saying they would divorce for this, I do think that is a bit ott but it is clear that you need a sit down conversation.

AbraKebabraa · 25/10/2025 13:07

I hope since 07.36 today you’ve not only raised it with him but irrefutably re-established your boundary to him (putting it politely), confident now nearly PP have ruled out doubt for you.

DiscoBob · 25/10/2025 11:36

'sure I could find something you could squeeze into'!?

I'm not sure but that one might have actually gone over his head as his reply seems to still relate to clothing?! Either way it does sound flirty.

Sartre · 25/10/2025 11:01

They’re flirting but she’s instigating it and he’s an idiot going along with it. The second chat, for example, begins with him being really innocent then she transforms it and crosses a line but he gets involved so isn’t entirely innocent. It’s evident they fancy one another, you’re not paranoid.

OnlyFangs · 25/10/2025 10:52

GirtyPlunder · 25/10/2025 09:30

They are both pathetic, "I miss you"
"you can wear your leggings"

I mean classic, super-dull affair partners or what?

Grin Yeah. If I saw these messages on DH phone I would probably dump him primarily for just how basic and unimaginative his flirting was Grin
EmeraldShamrock000 · 25/10/2025 10:51

Is he delusional? He wants to have his cake and eat it, greedy and selfish, boosting his ego.
I'd be very disappointed..

ProfessionalWhimsicalSkidaddler · 25/10/2025 10:45

Blump2783 · 24/10/2025 22:59

It is flirting but I have some male colleagues who I might exchange messages like that with jokingly, and although it is flirty there is no chance of anything going on or anyone wanting something to go on. However, obviously not everyone is the same.

Agree with this. But you work with them (forced to spend time with them really) and you know them. Do you start communication and regular contact with a random person of the opposite sex that you aren’t forced to work with? I’d say no as it’s inappropriate and they’re probably not wanting to be friends.

Gruffporcupine · 25/10/2025 10:41

Phobiaphobic · 25/10/2025 10:20

Outright flirting at this level is a betrayal on a par with an affair. It's obvious he would like to fuck her. Many women would find this very hard to live with, and there's nothing wrong with feeling that way.

OP, I think in your shoes I would confront him with those messages and tell him he either cuts off all contact and attends couple therapy with you to try and repair the damage, or he packs his bags and moves out.

This. If you still want to give him a chance to correct himself, it needs to be serious... so one and one only.

Springtimehere · 25/10/2025 10:35

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Work9to5 · 25/10/2025 10:33

I'd class it as flirting. How bothered I'd be would depend on DH and his relationships with women generally. And probably the kind of gym it is.

DHs gym is really serious and I have no issues with any of the women there. His previous gym was full of posers that I wouldn't have trusted further than I could chuck a barbell.

Springtimehere · 25/10/2025 10:32

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MasterBeth · 25/10/2025 10:26

Mistyglade · 24/10/2025 23:45

I bet they don’t think that.

Agree.

How do you know that the men you are flirting with want nothing to happen?

toiletpaperthief · 25/10/2025 10:25

This is flirting with capital letters, there's something going on between these two. Unless he's the boyfriend from heaven and treats me amazing in other aspects i would dump him just for this.

Phobiaphobic · 25/10/2025 10:20

Wildgoat · 25/10/2025 08:33

I think some of these responses are very over the top. Very few people would end a marriage for some mild flirting.

they are flirty messages op, but that doesn’t mean he’s planning to cheat or this is some deep emotional affair. He obvs finds her attractive, likes her, they get on, have some flirty banter. Now on saying that, most people wouldn’t want their partner to do that. But again it doesn’t mean he’s testing the waters and fully intends to cheat or that she would cheat with him. He maybe, but those texts don’t mean that for sure;

Outright flirting at this level is a betrayal on a par with an affair. It's obvious he would like to fuck her. Many women would find this very hard to live with, and there's nothing wrong with feeling that way.

OP, I think in your shoes I would confront him with those messages and tell him he either cuts off all contact and attends couple therapy with you to try and repair the damage, or he packs his bags and moves out.

AlanJohnsonsBeemer · 25/10/2025 09:52

Jesus, if those are borderline I would hate to see what people think are inappropriate

dottiedodah · 25/10/2025 09:51

He enjoys having his head turned by an attractive female, and having a boost to his ego .He is being snappy with you as you are getting in the way of him having " fun" .Dont put up with it OP.He needs to stop going to that gym right now .I would lay it on the line,dont be put off by his excuses .If he doesnt want to stop going then he is putting his fun above your marriage

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 25/10/2025 09:51

I think it's flirting rather than banter. It's all 'I miss you when you're not there' and about how good she looks and her clothes / body. Does he send similar messages to his male friends about missing them and what they're wearing? I doubt it

ComedyGuns · 25/10/2025 09:45

Gruffporcupine · 24/10/2025 22:27

I would end my marriage over messages like this. Others might feel differently but he wants to sleep with her and will at the first opportunity. Get away with your dignity intact x

I agree - it’s almost like some kind of grooming.

cadburyegg · 25/10/2025 09:44

Flirtatious and inappropriate and not only that he feels the need to gaslight you into telling you that you’re paranoid. No doubt he will now tell her that you’re annoyed, she will agree how ridiculous you are and then he will run to her for “emotional support”.

Scorpion84 · 25/10/2025 09:43

Definitely flirting and definitely testing the waters . I would be really upset and personally for me this would be enough to start considering whether I would stay in the marriage