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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Friend getting cosy with my ex…AIBU?

220 replies

AmonRa1 · 09/02/2015 09:50

I was seeing my ex, casually, on and off since 2009. It ended for good last year when I finally woke up, got some self-respect and ditched him. I did love him though, a lot, would’ve done anything for him and I think a small part of me will always have a soft spot for him but he treated me appallingly and meeting my now OH has totally shown me what a real, loving relationship SHOULD be like.

Anyway, when I first got with my OH, ex couldn’t stand it and was literally bombarding me with texts/phone calls/whatsapps etc begging me to give him another chance, he realised he’d been an idiot, I was the girl he wanted to marry, blah, blah, blah. I stopped responding and so he started messaging one of my close friends asking her to speak to me, to tell me he’s sorry, get me to ‘see sense’ (arrogant so and so) blah, blah.

Ex and I do share some of the same friends, although, tbh, to me, they are more like acquaintances. The past couple of months, my friends and I have been out on a Saturday night and have bumped into him due to him and us all being with the same people, in the same pubs/ bars etc. He and I have been fine, we have a drink and a chat but that’s it.

ANYWAY, my close friend that he started messaging that time, asking her to speak to me on his behalf, told me the other week that he had messaged her on FB after she had ‘checked in’ at his local pub on FB asking why she didn’t tell him she was there as he would’ve gone down and had a drink with her?! She said it very blaze, like that was a completely normal thing for him to do. I wanted to ask why he was messaging her and did she message him back but just kept schtum.

He has told me before in passing that he thinks she’s ‘fit’ (she is) and he is stupidly handsome and the majority of females aren’t exactly immune to his charm!

A few weeks ago she ‘checked in’ again at his local pub on FB (which is a bit weird as it’s nowhere near where she lives but she has recently palled up with a girl who lives near him and that is her local too, so fair enough) and when I saw it, I wondered whether he’d be messaging her again or whether the ‘check in’ was for his benefit as she very rarely uses FB/ does check in’s etc so it’s a bit odd. She’s also started to get a bit obsessed with hanging around with the same people as him, so those acquaintances that I mentioned in my 3rd paragraph, if we are out she is constantly saying ‘Let’s text so and so and see what they’re doing and where they are.’ Or she’ll text me before the weekend saying ‘So and so are going to be at the rugby club on Sat, shall we go and watch the match and go out with them after?’ I’m really not bothered to be honest as the majority of them irritate me and she has never been bothered about them or ever wanted to give them the time of day before?

ANYWAY, I haven’t seen her for a couple of weeks as I’ve been on holiday and work has been manic. She came over last night and in the middle of a conversation, casually managed to drop in how ‘A couple of weeks ago her and XXX (her friend) were down his local again and my ex came down to meet them and they all got really drunk and he invited them both back to his to stay the night, which they did…..in the spare room.’

At the time, I felt like she’d slapped me but I acted nonchalant and didn’t say anything, however when she left, I felt really upset. My OH noticed and asked what was up and so I told him and his first words were ‘Well that’s a bit off to be honest as she doesn’t even know him, only through you and even that’s not very well and why do you need to know that she’s getting drunk with him and staying around his house?’

And that’s exactly how I feel. I KNOW I am with someone else, him and I are history so it shouldn’t matter but this man was my utter world for a very long time. She is one of my best friends and in general, is a BRILLIANT friend. I just can’t help but think something is going on somewhere. They don’t know each other from Adam, apart from through me and I only really introduced them to each other in the last few months of him and I’s relationship, so that is only about a year ago. In that time they’ve probably met a handful of times when we’ve bumped into him out and about. She ‘dislikes’ him (like the rest of my friends) for how he treated me whilst we were together etc. Although obviously not, because she’s now getting drunk with him and staying over at his house.

He doesn’t do female ‘friends’ he only gives someone the time of day if he finds them attractive (shallow git) so I know his intentions would not have been honourable. I just don’t get how she thought I was going to react, am I expected to be doing cartwheels that one of my best friends is now spending time with my ex and staying over at his house? If they were friends before then that would be different, but they don’t know each other at all?

I feel like I need to speak to her about it and say that if anything were to happen there, I’m sorry, but I could not forgive her. Out of all the men in the world that is the ONE man that I couldn’t forgive one of my friends for going behind my back with and I shouldn’t even have to say that as she should know. Also, I have spoken to her every day in the past 2 weeks and not once has she mentioned that she stayed over at his. I have also spoken to him too a few times as his dog (who was my world when we were together) had a fit, fell down the stairs and ended up at the vets very ill. He was devastated and just wanted to talk to someone I think and I am the only other person who loves her like he does. Not once did he mention it either yet if I had stayed around her exes’ house or had his best friend randomly stay over at mine, I think I’d have mentioned it!

Irrespective of anything else, he is bad news. She is younger than me and without meaning to be patronising, quite naïve when it comes to relationships and men. She would get SO hurt, just like I did, just like all his ex’s have, hence why he’s 36 and on his own!

Should I speak to her do you think?

OP posts:
Fudgeface123 · 09/02/2015 10:01

Sorry to be harsh but it's none of your business, you're not together anymore so don't let it concern you.

And what the hell does FB checking in at a pub mean??????? (I don't do FB but it sounds a tad bonkers)

AnyFucker · 09/02/2015 10:01

No

keep your beak out

you are far too involved obsessed with your e's life

I hope you don't share all this busybodying with your current partner, because if he came for advice on here he would be advised to ltb

AnyFucker · 09/02/2015 10:01

ex's

Fudgeface123 · 09/02/2015 10:02

And the whole of your post, apart from the last paragraph, doesn't sound like concern about her, just jealousy

Costacoffeeplease · 09/02/2015 10:06

Stay out of it, it's none of your business who he, or she, sees

CheshireCait · 09/02/2015 10:07

He's not your property, he can do what he likes with whoever he likes.

McSqueezy · 09/02/2015 10:08

I would ignore the comments saying you're overly involved with your ex's life. Perhaps you are, but I bet the majority of the people wouldn't be best pleased if their so-called "good" friend got involved with a recent ex, and wasn't being open about it.

You need to withdraw yourself from the situation (i.e forget about your ex, as you're no longer with him), and re-evaluate your friendship if she is not being totally honest with you.

holeinmyheart · 09/02/2015 10:11

Hard and horrible as it is, you can't really prevent your GF hooking up with your Ex.
If you look at it logically, everyone goes in and out of relationships. Some are successful, some dump you, some you dump. It is life, not personal.

If you tell your friend that she can't in effect see your ex, it smacks of
jealousy. Ie. It didn't work out for me and so you can't have him . etc.

Let them go out and suck it up.

You say that she is a brilliant friend and so let her continue to be one. After all you are very happy with your present partner, so why be jealous and controlling. Be glad for them and be the better woman.

If everyone chills, it will be fine.

Far better to let her get on with it with your blessing and be there to say' I told you so ! when it doesn't work out, than have a massive strop and lose your friend.

Anyone who says, my friend wouldn't do it, or I wouldn't do it to a friend is not being realistic. I would perhaps asked permission, but you are happily with someone else.
My Exes even if they dumped me, were welcome to go out with whoever they liked.

harryhausen · 09/02/2015 10:12

You all sound about 15. All this checking into each other's lives.

If you were truly happy with your dh you wouldn't be giving this a second thought.

Look, I sort of know where you're coming from. I'm an old lady of 42. For nearly all of my 20's I mooned over (and slept with!) my male best friend. I was totally utterly head over heels. He told me straight up plenty of times it wasn't going to happen (officially) between us. But still I let him walk all over me. On/off on/off. He went out with other girls (he called them 'proper' girlfriends and was proud of them). It hurt beyond measure.

When I finally woke up and decided enough was enough, I spent a good 12 months afterwards thinking about what he was up to. It wasn't honestly until I met my DH that I genuinely stopped thinking about him and never looked back.

I haven't seen him or heard from him for 13 years and I'm so happy about that.

Please please move on. If you can't then you need to ask yourself why.

Theresadogonyourballs · 09/02/2015 10:13

You do sound completely obsessed with him, sorry.
And I get that, I really do. I've been there. But for the sake of your current relationship, you've got to disengage. It really is not your concern what he does, and your friend is an adult - she can make her own decisions.
Honestly, and I mean this kindly, just let it go, otherwise you will end up driving your partner away, and I'm sure you don't want that.

pictish · 09/02/2015 10:14

I'm afraid I agree with the others.
I understand why you find it inappropriate and weird, but the fact is...no one else will.
People meet people through other people. It's a common way to hook up with someone.
You are no longer with him and haven't been for an extended period, so she's not really betraying you. Your issues over him are your own demons, and really...you can't expect her to take them on as her own. She's a separate person to you.

I know you're hurt, but you shouldn't be. It's not fair to your current partner to be so offended by this.

BinarySolo · 09/02/2015 10:16

She's hardly going behind your back as you 'FINISHED WITH HIM FOR GOOD'.

Who he sees is non of your business. Who your friend sees is non of your business.

I feel sorry for your current dp as your clearly not over your ex to be so obsessive about him.

momb · 09/02/2015 10:16

He wasn't the one for you. Maybe he is for her.

I've had this from the other side and it's very sad, but you need to let them get on with it if you want to remain friends with her.

Quitelikely · 09/02/2015 10:19

Ouch. Sour grapes. Move on with your life.

There is nothing good or healthy about you still being involved with the ex who hurt you so badly.

If he hurts her he hurts her. Not your problem.

I know it's shakey territory when it comes to friends dating exs but IMO I think live and let live. I don't subscribe to the idea if I've dated a man that my friends can never date him after. It feels bonkers to me. People are free to date who they like or at least they should be...........

NerrSnerr · 09/02/2015 10:22

He's an ex and you have a new man. You sound very jealous and overly invested in his life. Let them get on with it, you never know- they might be right for each other and live happily ever after.

AmonRa1 · 09/02/2015 10:28

I am over him and I am not jealous. I have had my chance to get back with him numerous times these past 10 months and have turned it down every single time. If I wanted to be with him I would be. I have even tried setting him up with a friend of a friend a few months ago so it definitely isn’t jealousy. Please stop twisting my post to create more drama.

I AM aware it is none of my business and they are free to do what they like, but I HONESTLY would NOT go with one of my friends exes. I just wouldn’t. There are so many other people out there, why would you need to? It’s not like we ended particularly amicably, he treated me awfully, if someone treated her like that, I would never forgive them, I certainly wouldn’t be getting pally with them.

I’m sorry, I just genuinely don’t believe that the majority of posters WOULDN’T be bothered if their best friend got with their ex. I just don’t. Very easy to say. If this was someone I was casually seeing for a month or two then that would be totally different, but it obviously isn’t.

OP posts:
ScrambledSmegs · 09/02/2015 10:32

She's trying to let you know she's interested in him and gauge your reaction, in a rather odd and childish way. Are you all quite young? Or is she just a bit immature?

Let her get on with it. She's a grown up. If she wants to get involved with him, knowing how he behaves to women he's in a relationship with, then that's her own problem. Although still be a friend to her!

It might be wise to say to her 'look, I know you're interested in him. It's fine with me if you want it to go further. However I don't like the way he treated me and I don't like talking about him, so can we talk about something else now?' That way the little hints and stuff will hopefully stop if she has any sense. Anything else (ie giving her advice, saying you'll be there for her if she needs you etc) will sound patronising so don't got there.

bberry · 09/02/2015 10:33

I actually agree that "girl code" means you don't mess with a friends ex, it's not that you want him, but you don't want him to be a bigger part of your circle anymore, even if there is no sexual relationship why does she want to be friends with someone who hurt you?

If she doesn't know the code I would start distancing yourself from her

I see I am in the minority but it's how me and my friends work..... I think it's called respect, there are many many people in the world to be friends or partners with.... And you do have a choice

Nextwednesday · 09/02/2015 10:34

Yes I definitely would be bothered. But you can't really do anything about it. Just cool it with her till you know what's happening and until the feelings subside.

gatewalker · 09/02/2015 10:51

Until you can admit to your jealousy, nothing is going to shift in terms of the dynamics between you, your ex, and your friend, OP. There is jealousy there: you are wanting her to stay away from him, you are in judgement about both of them. If your feelings were detached, you wouldn't care either way. This isn't really about them - it's about you. Are you able to see that? I'm not sure.

AnyFucker · 09/02/2015 10:51

it's not the "being bothered" about an ex hooking up with a friend

it's the lengths you have gone to to monitor it

Seriouslyffs · 09/02/2015 10:57

Are you 13?

Makeoneupnow · 09/02/2015 10:57

Honestly I would not be happy either OP I think your response is how most people would react. I'm surprise that most reactions on here have said otherwise actually.
For me and most people I know- that would not be ok to do

Viviennemary · 09/02/2015 10:58

Just let them get on with it. I don't believe you are over him and are not jealous even if you think you are. There's nothing you can do about it. Just avoid them as much as possible and try not to get to obsessed by them.

harryhausen · 09/02/2015 11:02

OP we're not making your words into a 'drama' at all. Whether you can see it or not, your post oozes jealousy. I realise that you've turned him down many a time but that doesn't stop jealous feelings.

Like AF says, the extent to which you've monitored their social lives speaks volumes.

Let it go. They'll get together if they want to. If you're in the same 'soup' of friends then cross dating is bound to happen. Not easy to swallow, but not what can you do?