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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:
diddl · 10/02/2015 09:05

So she's not seeingg him or intending to?

She just got pissed & stayed over with a friend?

TBH, I don't get why that annoys you so much.

DistanceCall · 10/02/2015 09:16

Ok. You love your partner. You are over this man.

So why on earth do you care so much whether your friend gets together wtih him or not? I can understand that your friendship would be hurt if she chooses to be with a man who didn't treat you very well. But this drama? Come on. You are no longer fifteen.

And again: she has done nothing wrong.

rollonthesummer · 10/02/2015 09:26

People meet partners through friends-that will always be the case.

Someone might have gone out with your current boyfriend before you and thought he behaved like a shit, but you are entitled to make up your own mind-as is she.

If they get married and spend the next 40 years happy together, will you be glad on your death bed that you stopped being her friend because you don't think she should have gone out with him?

nilbyname · 10/02/2015 09:31

You'll look back on this and CRINGE! It's sooo embarrassing and juvenile!

What right do youbhave to dictate others chance of happiness?

What's this "girl code"? Ridiculous!

AmonRa1 · 10/02/2015 09:32

It's not YOUR place to tell me what I should and shouldn't be hurt over.

If she were to develop a relationship with him her and I would become distant, that is just how it would be.

  1. Because if we’re having general conversation, he would be the dominating subject and I really wouldn’t want to know what they’ve been up to etc.
  2. My other friends (some of them hers) would not be okay with it, they’ve basically said as much, they cannot stand the man and don’t want to spend any time in his company so what would we do at social gatherings because he wouldn’t be invited and she would get annoyed about that after a while.
  3. Add to that that I would just feel angry towards her (whether that’s justified or not that would be the case)

Her and I being friends would just be very difficult. Sorry but not everything is always black and white.

There isn’t ‘all this drama’ I have calmly stated that if she were to develop a relationship with him that I wouldn’t feel comfortable continuing my relationship with her, at least at present. It is her choice.

If she hasn’t done anything wrong then why all the the tears from her yesterday and all the ‘I have just felt so terrible ever since’ etc etc. My conversation with her was pretty devoid of emotion, I was just calm and stated my case, her responses were completely hysterical to some degree.

OP posts:
Bluepants · 10/02/2015 09:33

Thing is really you can't say anything. To do so would be interfering and would probably not impact what they are/might be up to anyway.

She's seen the way he's hurt you so she's going into it with her eyes open.

Yes I would be bothered if my best friend got together with my ex. But from the point of view that it would prevent a clean (ie total) cut of contact with the ex for me. You might lose the friendship over this, you might not but I suggest either way that you get on with your own life. There is no positive input you can have to your ex/friend relationship.

grocklebox · 10/02/2015 09:47

you're like a small child who has finished playing with a toy but doesn't want any of the other children to play with it either.

The fact that your friend is even more childish than you does not negate your bad behaviour. Grow up, the lot of you. Who your friends choose to go out with is none of your business. You seem to think that you are the centre of the universe, but other peoples lives don't revolve around you.

rollonthesummer · 10/02/2015 09:47

How old are you, OP?

AmonRa1 · 10/02/2015 09:54

Well I'm so glad you all wouldn't mind your best Friend hopping into bed with your ex whilst it was still practically warm from you ?? you're all so worldly and 'cool'

Good for you, that's not the case with me. I'm not going to apologise for it, I'm just not.

I think this thread can die a death now, I've gone against the grain and spoken to her anyway so I don't see what else there is left to say, oh, other than more insults slung at me.

OP posts:
rollonthesummer · 10/02/2015 09:59

She is your best friend in the world but you only introduced to your boyfriend who was your 'world' for a number or years, just before you broke up?

It's a bizarre story. Sorry that not everyone agreed with your point of view though.

QueenofallIsee · 10/02/2015 10:00

I would be very upset if any of my friends did this - it may well be immature and controlling etc but the fact is if I was treated like crap and bared my soul to a friend about my love for someone for 6 years, then found in very short order she was sleeping with him/making a play for him I would feel as though she was stamping on my pain. It would not be about the guy, it would be about her having that insight but not seeing that as important. I am not saying that is a healthy view but it would be how I felt!

grocklebox · 10/02/2015 10:01

Worldly and cool? Hmm I think its more not being a selfcentred drama queen actually.

DistanceCall · 10/02/2015 10:02

"There isn’t ‘all this drama’ I have calmly stated that if she were to develop a relationship with him that I wouldn’t feel comfortable continuing my relationship with her, at least at present. It is her choice."

So what do you want from this thread? You seem to have made up your mind already.

DistanceCall · 10/02/2015 10:03

"Well I'm so glad you all wouldn't mind your best Friend hopping into bed with your ex whilst it was still practically warm from you".

Well, you did hop into someone else's bed just as quickly. So what's the problem?

AmonRa1 · 10/02/2015 10:06

None of my friends had had years of heartache with my OH, that's the difference, none or them loved him, none of them have any emotional attachment to him whatsoever and if they did I wouldn't have got with him, because I wouldn't want any of my friends feeling how I am right now.

OP posts:
rollonthesummer · 10/02/2015 10:07

Well, you did hop into someone else's bed just as quickly. So what's the problem?

Very true!

bitofanoddone · 10/02/2015 10:08

I admire you for fighting back but i'd really intrigued as to why you stayed in an on off realtiosnhip with him for so long?

bitofanoddone · 10/02/2015 10:09

and how old you are?

DistanceCall · 10/02/2015 10:09

But you don't have any emotional attachment to him any more, right?

You may think that your friend is being an idiot hooking up with this man after what you told her about him and refuse to socialise with her if she's going to talk about him or bring him along. But if, as you say, you feel nothing for this man, you shouldn't take it as the mortal offence you seem to believe she is committing.

diddl · 10/02/2015 10:10

"If she hasn’t done anything wrong then why all the the tears from her yesterday"

Doesn't mean that she has done anything wrong.

Maybe she's torn because she likes him but knows that you wouldn't accept it & also knows that he treated you badly.

littlejessie · 10/02/2015 10:15

Ignore the age related insults OP, I think in reality most women I know would feel uncomfortable at the least, were they to end up in a similar situation. It's clearly been a protracted separation after a long term relationship - and yes, you probably are still untangling a multitude of feelings in relation to him...you are only human after all! I'd like to know how many posters here would approach these circumstances in reality with the same on-screen detachment. Not many I suspect!

AmonRa1 · 10/02/2015 10:16

He hasn't just treated me badly, he's treated every single GF he's ever had badly, hence why at nearly 37 years old he is still single.

There is no point in me going over it all anymore. You all think I'm in the wrong, I don't. My mind won't change on that. I haven't dictated to her who she should and shouldn't see, I've said if she wants to develop a relationship with him our relationship will cool. It's her choice. If she really likes him then maybe she'll choose him. Fine. I'm better off without her in my life then, if miss her terribly but there will be other friends.

OP posts:
sybilwibble · 10/02/2015 10:16

ANYWAY...

This says your post is NOT about protecting your friend but all about your feelings for him, despite your protestations otherwise.

You should jog on and leave them to it. They are adults after all, even if you do all sound like you are at the swings.

DistanceCall · 10/02/2015 10:17

"hence why at nearly 37 years old he is still single".

THE HORROR! A SINGLE 37-YEAR-OLD! Grin

Twinklestein · 10/02/2015 10:19

The people on here who imply they would be cool with a ex of 5 years getting involved with one of their best friends within a year of splitting, I simply don't believe them.

There are all too many posters on these boards now looking for someone to kick rather than actually wanting to offer advice.

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