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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:
Gruzinkerbell1 · 18/07/2019 20:41

His defensiveness and lies scream that this isn’t innocent. I’m sorry.

Ivestoppedreadingthenews · 18/07/2019 20:43

He is having an affair

Loveislandaddict · 18/07/2019 20:46

Don’t know how long you have been together, but have you heard this woman’s name before? Was she invited to your wedding? Or other social events?

The red flags for me are 1) she’s totally new to you, despite being an ‘old friend’, 2) the lieing and deception 3) his behaviour,

Definitely an ea.

Be wary, be very wary.

magoria · 18/07/2019 20:47

Sorry OP he is on or down the path to an affair already.

Secrets, lies, more lies and prioritising her over you.

Snoozeulose · 18/07/2019 20:48

Smells fishy. The day off/cancelling meeting isn’t unusual though. When added to the rest it is.

Cheeserton · 18/07/2019 20:50

The lying is very clearly not OK. He's hiding something, blatantly.

user1480880826 · 18/07/2019 20:54

This is mighty suspicious. He has a female friend he never told you about who he meets for “dinner” whilst pretending it’s a business meeting.

If it was totally innocent why would he keep it secret and act so defensively when questioned? It really doesn’t sound good.

dottiedodah · 18/07/2019 20:55

There is a lot more going on here IMO .Why is he so defensive about his phone for a start?.Mine is out, and left for anyone to look at DH, DC etc .I dont think it is an invasion of privacy at all .You are married FFS! .Also the day off you booked together ,he suddenly cant get off and he is having a meeting with her?,and lying to you about the name of her Dads Co?.There are loads of Red Flags flying high!.You need to ask him outright what is happening here.Hopefully he may come to his senses but it may well be worth seeing a Solicitor for advice, at this stage (Usually an hour free advice or nominal fee)

WhenCheeseIsLife · 18/07/2019 20:56

@Direwolfwrangler thank you, I won't check them for that reason and for the fact that I know his PA has access to his emails so it's very unlikely they would be sending messages to and from his work email.

@wigglybluelines Wow! I didn't know this! Thank you. Great tip!

@Loveislandaddict no, he didn't even bring her up as being considered to be invited to the wedding so he either didn't know her then or wanted to keep her away. I've never heard her name being mentioned before. The first I knew about her was through accidentally seeing the text message.

OP posts:
VenusTiger · 18/07/2019 20:56

Is she an historical ex gf who has reappeared?

If I were in your shoes I’d call her (not text as you need to put her on the spot) and simply say, hi, my DH and I would like to invite you over for dinner on XX or XX.
See how she reacts. I’d want to meet her too. If you’re keeping it friendly, as you seem to be doing so far with DH, then she should accept without hesitation if it’s all innocent and above board. If she never does accept, then I’d call her back and ask her wtf is going on as your DH won’t tell you. Hopefully you’ll be armed with at least some kind of picture to present to DH.

tomatostottie · 18/07/2019 20:57

He got defensive straight away about meeting her for lunch. If that had been completely innocent he would have reacted different.
I'm sorry but I think he is having and affair.

BjornAgain81 · 18/07/2019 20:59

This sounds shady as fuck tbh.

NigesFakeWalkingStick · 18/07/2019 21:01

Totally suspicious. New 'old' friends rarely pop out of the woodwork enough to suddenly have meetings rearranged for them randomly. If I've got in touch with an old friend (let's face it Facebook etc makes it more common these days) I would surely tell my partner where I was going and who I was going with. It's just not something you withhold unless you are concerned the other person would have objections to it.

The lying and defensiveness about the whole thing is a major red flag. More investigative work is needed OP - screenshots, etc, for proof where needed. And like a PP has said, don't be afraid to say this friendship makes you uncomfortable - it's perfectly reasonable and normal in this situation where something appears to be happening behind the scenes.

ELM8 · 18/07/2019 21:03

I've always found trusting your gut with these things is the right thing to do. Only you know your relationship, whether he could lie and if there is enough to raise your suspicions.

Don't feel guilty or "crazy" though as it's HIS behaviour that's making you feel this way, so even if he hasn't done anything with her he is still in the wrong for making you feel like this.

Freespirit24 · 18/07/2019 21:10

Hmmm this is not the dynamics of how a good and healthy relationship should be?

I think you treat him more like a friend and you fail to realise that there are boundaries in a relationship. My husband would not dare have secret female friends or would never go out with other women for lunch unless it was a big group event. Secret texts, meetings and choosing to spend a day with another women over his wife, all sends alarms bells my way.

I think you need to tell him you feel uneasy with this and that you are not comfortable. He should consider your feelings. As much as you do not want to control him, sounds he has had to much free reign and needs to remember who he is married too.

LillithsFamiliar · 18/07/2019 21:12

I'd invite her over for dinner. She's an old friend. It would be perfectly natural to invite her. Then you can see how he acts when you suggest it and if she comes, you can judge how they are together. It also allows you to counter any lies he is telling her about your not being together any more, just sharing a house, etc.

WhoKnewBeefStew · 18/07/2019 21:13

An emotional affair is an affair

Lying, defensiveness, prioritising his communications with her to the detriment of his marriage

Affair. Act accordingly.*

This with bells on it!

Italiangreyhound · 18/07/2019 21:15

OP it all sounds very suspicious and he is behaving like a prize twat, IMHO.

What you do with all this is up to you, but I think you are right "...probably more likely an emotional affair."

"So my question is AIBU by being bothered by this?"

Not at all, you are not being unreasonable AT ALL.

"I am very ashamed to say that I peeked at his phone after though! I don't know what came over me." Please do not be ashamed. He is (probably) betraying you emotionally and this has made you feel very uncomfortable and has been a challenge.

"It was a complete invasion of his privacy and I've never done it since." To be honest it is an invasion of his privacy but my own feeling is - so what! If you found out he was having a physical, sexual affair then you may have needed that information to inform your own choices.

"I know I was completely unreasonable doing that." Again, you are not being unreasonable.

"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?!" I would not be happy for my husband to have such a friend. You are not crazy for feeling like this.

BananasAreTheSourceOfEvil · 18/07/2019 21:17

Is she an old flame?

I'd be very hmm of his behaviour too then getting my deerstalker hat and my magnifying glass out to look for other clues because it just doesnt sit right.

If it was an old friend he'd recently reconnected with, surely he'd say 'guess who I just heard from? havent seen XX in years!' not hide stuff.

WhenCheeseIsLife · 18/07/2019 21:19

The funny thing is now...he's supposed to be at a work dinner tonight and now I don't believe a single word. He's probably with her. I'll find the evidence I need. He'll have no idea what's going to hit him (don't worry! I don't mean physically!).
I'm wiping mug off my face!

OP posts:
Lennon80 · 18/07/2019 21:20

I’d get a pay as you go sim - go into his phone and put that number under hers in his contacts - you will soon find out what’s going on.

catofdoom · 18/07/2019 21:21

You poor thing. It's bad enough that the fuckers do this to us without all the gaslighting too. Angry

Yeahyeahyeahyeeeeah · 18/07/2019 21:21

I’d be kicking up a stink. WTF is going on? Who the fuck is she? Where the fuck did she show up from? And what is he doing?

EKGEMS · 18/07/2019 21:23

Tell him to go hug a landmine,then hit him with divorce papers

VenusTiger · 18/07/2019 21:25

Use your day off to follow him to this meeting with his friend - or ask a close friend to follow him.

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