I will start by saying I am not a party in this, but I am a friend of the lady in the relationship, so maybe Im biased and wanted to hear opinions.
Friend has been going out with a guy for a few months and things seemed to be progressing well.
He recently introduced her to some friends, including an ex. It became very clear from the get go the ex and him are very, very involved in each other lives. They have been together for a while, she keeps on mentioning stuff obviously that they went through (along the lines 'Remember when this happened or this film we saw'), stuff my friend would not know about him as they have not been together that long, touches his shoulder, maybe not in a sexy way, but nevertheless.
Friend felt a bit put off, as her impression was that the ex likes to show that her boyfriend is still her 'territory'.
She had a chat with him, and he said he had been in a relationship with the ex for 5 years and that they were still close and they had been very close friends for a while and he didn't see the behavious inappropriate. He did speak to his ex, who seemed to have suggested my friend is just a bit jealous and laughed it off. They met in a group of friends again and the ex came to my friend to say "You gotta udnerstand we are just really good friends and we will forever be very close". Her impression was that it was to say "He will pick me over you".
My friend does not want BF to cut the ex from his life, but is very uncomfortable with how close they are. I'm on a fence with what to adivse her, as I know I would be uncomfortable too, but also, I would not want to look controlling and dictating what a bf should do with his life. She is heartbroken s had very high hopes for this being the one, but now feels like a 3rd wheel in her own relationship.