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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:
BauerTime · 10/02/2015 20:18

RetroImp again you have nailed it and I can also recognise this situation from my own life many years ago.

OP, again no one is trying to upset you. You say your friends agree with you but if they are good friends then they are possibly doing this to support you and Know it's in your best interests to get over him and not go back for more. They are never going to point out that you still have feelings for him if he is no good.

Sometimes an objective view is needed and I think that's what you have got here. Your words resonate in a way that you don't intend. It seems clear to the MN majority that your feelings on this are not quite as clear as you want to believe they are. There is nothing wrong with that but you need to be honest with yourself if you want to move on.

BrendaBlackhead · 11/02/2015 12:15

Actually, OP, if you're still here, I think you should scratch that itch.

You'll find out if your ex has in fact moved on, if you really truly want to move on, or if you both are destined to be together, no matter what. Otherwise you are doomed to a life of combing through FaceBook worrying about what he is up to.

Also, if the shoe were on the other foot I don't think you'd be happy if your current partner was having angsty thoughts about an ex-girlfriend and, what's more, talking about it with his friends and on an internet forum.

Nearasdammit · 11/02/2015 13:43

OP - I'm with you.

What's more I've seen plenty if threads on here asking "AIBU to consider dating my friend's ex" and almost invariably the replies are "YABU!! Don't do it!"

AmonRa1 · 11/02/2015 13:56

Yes,

Funnily enough I had that thought last night, if someone were to post on here

‘My best friend was with her ex on and off for nearly 6 years, it was a bit of a turbulent relationship, he cheated on her and was just generally a bit of a crap BF, however she stupidly loved him and he really broke her heart. She is now with someone else, someone who is a really nice guy, much nicer and better than her ex. Her ex has now started coming on to me, I don’t really know him very well at all, know what he’s like though, know of a couple of his previous ex’s and he actually cheated on them too. I know she’d be really upset if I went there and it would probably give him some satisfaction but I REALLY fancy him and wouldn’t mind some fun with him. Should I do it?’

I wonder what the responses would have been, I can pretty much guess.

OP posts:
BauerTime · 11/02/2015 14:07

But you are still ignoring the point OP!!!!!

The fact that it will really upset you indicates that you aren't over it/him.

Im fairly certain that in the post you have constructed above the responses would be along the lines of.....

'Your friend clearly still has feelings for him' and THATS why they shouldn't go there!

Joysmum · 11/02/2015 14:15

I know she’d be really upset if I went there and it would probably give him some satisfaction but I REALLY fancy him and wouldn’t mind some fun with him. Should I do it?’

Exactly.

In your reversed scenario you admit you would be really hurt.

The only reason you're hurt is that you've not moved on which is what everyone's been saying and you've been denying!

AmonRa1 · 11/02/2015 14:23

If I wanted to be with this man, I could be. I would be. If I still loved him and had intense feelings for him, I would go back to him, like he has been asking me, hell begging me to do for months now. I haven’t because I don’t. I dislike him strongly for what he’s done to me and quite frankly, he repulses me.

I can’t see it any clearer than that.

OP posts:
diddl · 11/02/2015 14:37

Tbh, my only concern would be why my friend would want to be involved with someone who treated me like shit.

GinSoakedBitchyPony · 11/02/2015 15:05

Exactly, diddl.

bitofanoddone · 11/02/2015 15:07

You OH is jealous of him. He doesn't hate him.

AmonRa1 · 11/02/2015 15:09

What and make you question what sort of friend she is? Make you think that if she did get with him that it would be condoning the way he has treated you for years? Yes, exactly. Hence my post and my saying I don’t think I could continue my friendship with her if she were to develop a cosy relationship with this man.

One of my OTHER ex’s though, whom I was with for 4 and a half years, I would LOVE to get them together, he is the sweetest most, kindest man and is honestly a fantastic BF. If he were single I would be trying to do some serious match making! I loved him once too but I wouldn’t think twice about setting them up because he is a GOOD man, who hasn’t hurt, cheated or lied to me, so consequently, I don’t have a massive chip on my shoulder re him.

OP posts:
GinSoakedBitchyPony · 11/02/2015 15:22

Are you just here now to argue with everyone, OP? You made it clear ages ago that you'd talked to all of your other friends and they all agreed with you, so wonder why you need to keep thrashing it out with MN?

My agreement about wondering about your friend was nothing to do with me questioning what sort of friend she is. You suggested that, not me.
My point is that I worry for any woman who hears all about how awful a man is from her friend who is in pain because of him, then even gives a moment of consideration to getting involved with him herself despite knowing that he's a complete cunt.

MyRightFoot · 11/02/2015 15:24

i totally get that you are over him.but is it possible that u have become used to his obsession with you? that it gives you reassurance and an ego boost. you are only human if this is the case. i was in your position once but the difference is he dumped me and i didnt have a new oh which changes the whole dynamic.

TheFriar · 11/02/2015 15:25

OP if I may say, I would step away from this thread now.
You contacted your friend, she and you are in the same wavelength re not dating and friend's ex and she confirmed that to you.
This thread is clearly making you upset and this is one of the times when it's not worth the agro.

Tbh this thread is a bit mind boggling.
You have one group of people who say you should never sleep with a friend's ex, even if your friend is well over the ex and is already dating someone else and it has been nearly a year and it's a strong secure relationship.
And the other group who says, well everyone is free to do what they want.
And not one group (OP included) is ready to hear the other one and to admit this us just a question of etiquette as what is acceptable or not (btw because it's a social rule, it's quite normal your friends think the same. It's also normal that there are other people thinking differently. I personally think there us nothing right it wrong with it. What would be wrong us to know the 'rule' and ignore it iyswim).

Just enjoy your current relationship and your friendship :)

BauerTime · 11/02/2015 16:47

OP if it is a question of not going near a friends ex how can you suggest you would set her up with another of your exes?

diddl · 11/02/2015 17:26

No, I'd be concerned for my friend & want to be there to pick up the pieces.

However, I think that you said she wouldn't date him, so moot point anyway?

AnyFucker · 11/02/2015 17:26

The opposite of love is not hate (or revulsion) it is indifference

Just sayin'

BauerTime · 11/02/2015 17:31

OP I just wanted to clarify that nothing that I have written was meant to be cruel or nasty and I apologise if I personally have upset you. FWIW I would not be comfortable with my friend taking up with this ex and totally get where you are coming from with that.

BUT if your friend wants to get together with a man that she knows is bad news and treated you so terribly then you have to accept that would be her choice.

If you have no residual feelings for him then the issue is that you don't want your friend to get hurt. But if you do then the issue is that she would be hurting you. I'm not suggesting that means you want him back, if he is even half as bad as you say then I suppose you know in your head that you will not be with him ever again. But your heart is a different matter. You can not control that with logic unfortunately.

All you can do is warm her off for her own good and explain that because he still has an emotional hold on you (and he does, or you wouldn't be hurt) and you can not be friends with her if she doesn't respect that and stay away.

I hope that makes sense. I'm not saying that you are in love with him or want him for yourself but that it's still all too raw for you and you are not over it.

trackdemon · 11/02/2015 18:41

This post says more about the OP than the friend...

WonderMuffins · 12/02/2015 08:06

Thesaurus.com lists both 'hate' and 'indifference' as antonyms of 'love'
www.thesaurus.com/browse/love

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