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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To worry about DH's secret friend

176 replies

WhenCheeseIsLife · 18/07/2019 19:18

My husband has a secret friend (not so secret now) that I found out about by accident.

Would it bother you?

I saw a text on his phone from this female friend. Nothing bad just they were meeting for lunch. I brought it up there and then. I wasn't horrible or accusatory. (Just to point out before anyone does, I have no problem with him having friends, male or female! He has many and does meet up occasionally with both male and female friends. I also don't insist he tells me exactly who he spoke to. What bothers me is that he's kept her a secret and then lied about it).

My words to him were simply "oh, are you meeting a friend for lunch tomorrow?" When I saw the text. He got very defensive about it saying that yes he was, she's an old friend he's known for a long time and he had done nothing wrong, he can meet up with whoever he likes. Which is true! And I would never stop him.
He's never been like this with any other female friends.

The really strange thing happened when a few months later we decided to book a day off work to spend together. There was only one day available that I could take, asked DH if he was ok with it and booked it. A few days later I brought up this day off trying to plan what to do and he said he couldn't do that day because he thought he had business meeting. Got out his work phone and said this meeting was with this woman. I asked him if he would be able to rearrange the meeting for another day since she's a friend and as it was the only day I could have. There were too many people off for the next few weeks. WIBU to ask??

We had a massive argument about it because I didn't see how he couldn't even ask...if she had said no then I told him that's fair enough because his work is important. He told me her dad owned some huge company that he was trying to get work from for years and made me feel incredibly small and pathetic for even asking. (I googled it and their family don't own it at all! Complete lie!) I did tell him what I found and he just said that he owns another company but must have forgotten the name. Yes! He forgot the name of a company he has desperately been trying to get work from for years.

I don't think he's having an affair with her but probably more likely an emotional affair.

So my question is AIBU by being bothered by this? He just acted so strangely and defensively when I asked. I am very ashamed to say that I peeked at his phone after though! I don't know what came over me. It was a complete invasion of his privacy and I've never done it since. I know I was completely unreasonable doing that. He had texted her saying she was a good friend and how lucky he was to have her in his life. I haven't brought it up since and have no idea if he still meets up with her. I'm happy that he has her as a friend to talk to but I don't understand why he would never mention her. Am I being batshit crazy?!

OP posts:
Paddingtonthebear · 18/07/2019 19:21

Hmm. I would be very suspicious

Cliffdonville · 18/07/2019 19:21

This would really worry me. The lies and defensiveness scream affair, maybe not a full blown one but certainly the start of something.
I'd tell him it's making you uncomfortable and you would like to meet her and see what he says

Constance1234 · 18/07/2019 19:24

I hope I’m wrong but it does sound like he has crossed some lines with her. The defensive lying is not the behaviour of an innocent person.

NoSauce · 18/07/2019 19:24

Yanbu. I would be suspicious too. It sounds like she’s more than just a friend to me.

Hanab · 18/07/2019 19:24

I could never be as calm as you are 🤷🏻‍♀️

akmum18 · 18/07/2019 19:25

Yanbu I’d be very suspicious and looking on his phone shows your instinct feels the same, always trust your gut

ShagMeRiggins · 18/07/2019 19:26

Why do so many of us try so hard to be the “cool girlfriend” when everything we see and feel sends warnings?

Women are programmed to be insecure about men’s fidelity.

OP, I have no idea what’s happening with him, but clearly there are things to be fixed in your relationship if you can’t talk about it without one of you feeling crazy or defensive.

cheriseb · 18/07/2019 19:27

The defensive attitude would make me very suspicious

Aquamarine1029 · 18/07/2019 19:28

I'm sorry, op, but I think there's big trouble afoot. His defensiveness and reaction to being asked simple, legitimate questions are massive red flags. The lie he told is also a major problem. I don't beliebe for a second that he views her as simply as a "friend."

Whatsername7 · 18/07/2019 19:29

He is having an affair - the lies, the accusations, the protests are all typical of someone who is cheating. Do not put up with it.

Pringlemunchers · 18/07/2019 19:30

I fear the worst and it is one hundred percent EA and on its way to something more. I am sorry.

CalmdownJanet · 18/07/2019 19:30

He is totally either having an affair or wants to have an affair. You are totally under reacting to this IMO, no need to be a "cool wife" when he is lying through his teeth and treating you like a fool

LadyTiredWinterBottom2 · 18/07/2019 19:30

I think maybe you are right, he does have a relationship with this woman that's inappropriate on some level. You only have his word that they have been friends for years. Why would he never have mentioned her before?

As for not wanting to move the meeting,well maybe that is plausible.

SolsticeBabyMaybe · 18/07/2019 19:30

I'd only be suspicious because he was defensive.

I have lunch with colleagues/friends from work (male and female) and usually mention to OH but not always. He usually tells me what he does when I'm not home but not always and I don't ask him. I think we both trust each other and it doesn't matter.

But if he started acting defensive about meeting up with one of his friends, that's freak me right out!

DustOffYourHighestHopes · 18/07/2019 19:31

He’s either having an affair or they have a huge crush on each other and playing it out by having too close a friendship. Either way i’d have huge issues with this dishonest shit.

SolsticeBabyMaybe · 18/07/2019 19:31

The meeting thing is not weird though. It's unprofessional to rearrange sometimes.

daisyboocantoo · 18/07/2019 19:31

Hmm I would be very concerned in your shoes. His reaction suggests something is amiss

Pringlemunchers · 18/07/2019 19:32

Ask yourself this , if he was having an affair , how would you think he would behave..... Write it down. Put a tick next to the behaviours he displaying. ?

Duchessgummybuns · 18/07/2019 19:32

If it was innocent why the lies and reaction? I would be very suspicious but pretend to be cool while I did some digging.

Opossooom · 18/07/2019 19:36

As far as I’m concerned due to the lies and the change in his behaviour I would have to assume a ‘new’ friend who he’s known for ‘years’ is no ‘friend’ at all OP though as you’ve said emotional, what the fuck Is he doing?! But saying that - I am batshit 😂

AtrociousCircumstance · 18/07/2019 19:37

He’s in love with her.

F2Feee · 18/07/2019 19:39

Why do so many of us try so hard to be the “cool girlfriend” when everything we see and feel sends warnings?

This!!!

Someone is going on right in front of you. You are so eager to be the cool wife that you are accepting red flags waving in front of you. You are married , completely unacceptable to have a secret friend that he is revolving your marriage decisions around. He is also defensive and willing to fight with you about it. Massive red flag. I would be very , very worried about the state of my marriage. Sorry op.

nooschmoo · 18/07/2019 19:43

Be very very bothered and upset!! Sounds very like my exDH, where almost the exact thing happened-he told me how unreasonable I was to be suspicious, how badly I was behaving, and that it was all in my mind-a few months later I found out the ‘friendship’ had tipped into an affair, and he eventually left me and the kids for her.
Secret friendships are NEVER good, do not let him gaslight you.

MyFokMarelize · 18/07/2019 19:43

Defensive and lying. There is more to this than you are prepared to accept at the moment OP. Of course it is up to you what you do - but I wouldn't be sitting around waiting for what seems to be the inevitable.
Your DH has a choice to make. You need to make him act on that.

Nautiloid · 18/07/2019 19:45

I would be incredibly suspicious of this.

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