Running in social circles means you’re bound to hang around the same type of people as yourself. If these like-minded people happen to be of the opposite sex, you might just find yourself with a love connection. However, sometimes, as fate would have it, your friend (even your best friend) breaks up with their boy/girlfriend and all of a sudden that person is on the market. And, as fate would have it, you and that person seem to have a lot in common. There is some kind of spark and you’re wondering if you should go through with it. Should you date your friend’s ex? It all depends.
That’s probably not the answer you’re expecting to hear, but it’s the best answer anyone could give you. There are a number of factors at work here.
- How long did your friend’s relationship last with this person? If it was a long time, your friend might have deep-seated attachments to this person. Even if they’re angry, they may not be completely over this person. Be careful you don’t ruin your friendship completely.
- What does your friend think? Have you asked your friend how they feel about your newfound connection with their recent ex? If not, you risk harming the friendship when your friend finds out. This brings us to another point.
- Is your friend prone to violence? If your friend is unstable, you must consider their reaction when they find out you’ve been dating their ex. Never underestimate love and the rage someone can feel following a breakup, especially the one getting dumped.
- Is it really worth it? If you date your friend’s ex, you must deal with the possibility that you might never talk to that person ever again. Many friendships have been severed permanently due to love triangle situations just like this one. Tread carefully and heed the following advice.
To prevent your friend from getting angry and to prevent any violent outbursts or crushed feelings or egos, it is always best to ask your friend’s permission before you date their ex. Even if you feel like this person is the one and even if this person is all you can think about morning, noon and night, think of your friend’s situation.
Your friend, even if they were the one who initiated the breakup, probably doesn’t want to see this person very often. Remaining absent from each other is all part of the healing process following a breakup. If you start bringing the ex around, it may cause your friend to react in unpredictable ways.
Of course, sometimes love cannot be denied. Ask permission before you date your friend’s ex and you’ll find this type of relationship much easier to handle. Plus, you’ll be more likely to keep your friend whether the relationship works out or not.