What to do when you accidentally run into your EX?

[AviatorTom]

Recently, my SO and I went to dinner at our favorite restaurant. We checked in with the hostess and were told we had a 15-minute wait. While waiting, a woman I dated several years ago, after my divorce, walked in with her date. We had dated (seriously) for about 18 months before I broke it off. It was awkward as we noticed each other. I wasn't sure what to do. I just sort of nodded, acknowledging her presence, and she did the same. Later, during dinner, my SO said that I should have said something to her, like "Hi, nice to see you."

Have you ever run into an ex? How did you handle it?

[OlderAndWiser]

Not too long ago, i was at lunch at 4 Rivers Smokehouse when i looked up and saw my ex-wife approaching. I had not seen her since March 2015, when we had the final hearing girlfriend for our uncontested divorce. I was actually eager to have a brief conversation with her and her am update on the lives of her and her children, since i has not talked to her in 8 years. However, when she saw me, she abruptly changed direction and avoided me. If she didn’t want to talk, i certainly has no intentions of forcing her to be civil, so i just let it pass.

[GuyAnswersGirls123]

I got in a really awkward situation one time early into dating my wife where we were in a teeny bar and in came my ex-girlfriend (who I didn't expect to encounter there since she used to say she hated that bar).

Worse, there was only one open seat available and it was right next to my wife. So she actually sat there and I was thinking, "Oh geez." But I did end up saying hi to her and introduced my wife (then girlfriend) to her and my ex took it well as with with my wife.

But then they started enthusiastically exchanging stories about me and I was just feeling so awkward the whole time. I think my ex kind of picked up on it and left after a couple of beers. It turned out to be no biggie but I felt really strange.

[sage2021]

As a matter of fact, yes. My son was with me and saw his Dad at this restaurant sitting in a both right near ours. I sent my little son over to let him know we were there.
Actually he was there because he was cheating on his wife with a waitress there. I just looked at him and said "Don't worry, I won't tell your wife you're cheating on her".
You see, he cheated on me and that's why I divorced him.

The whole thing was kinda ironic. He paid our bill though. That was nice but I would rather have him give the thousands of dollars he owed us for his child support he never paid. 🤬

[jennifer_bloom]

I had that happen one time when I returned to university to take care of business and he pretended to be on his phone so he would not have to talk to me. I did not want a conversation with him since we were not dating but I would have felt more respect from him if he had at least made eye contact with me to acknowledge that I still exist in his mind. But I understand he might have felt more comfortable sidelining me and not looking me in the eye, cause he could have been embarrassed over how we ended.

[Flatmanlewis]

Ex-GFs or girls I dated: we all ended on good terms and with no drama or disrespect so I would probably say hello and just move along or cheap talk for a few moments if we were in close proximity.
Ex-wife: Probably try to avoid her as best as I can by leaving but if circumstances didn’t allow then exchange a pleasant acknowledgment and excuse myself. She was more drama than I can even understand and there were court orders to prevent her from contacting me at one point. I don’t need psycho stalkers in my life.

[RobT312]

It’s been a while! Ran into an ex at a coffee shop before I met my wife. We didn’t break up on bad terms, but didn’t remain friends either.

We were both in between significant others so we chatted for a while , and somehow made it back to my apartment and had sex.
It was great, we both agreed…but we never contacted each other again!

[NathanDavis]

we're great friends today... with the others I'm friendly and in good terms

so just a quick hi and catch-up just like any other of my friends

and when possible we even hang out on the spot... or we just go on with our thing if not possible

[DizzyDesii]

Lmao thats sweet that you did a head nod. I think that or a wave is more than enough. I wouldn't dare spark up a convo in front of my guy. I wish i ran into these mfs when with him. But i unfortunately run into them when alone and then conversations happen and then they wanna keep in touch and its just awkward

[Sjoerd85]

I would just say hi, could do some smalltalk, but keep it very short. I wouldn't like it if my wife starts extended conversations with an ex boyfriend of her, so I shouldn't either.

[sawno]

I'd strike up a conversation with her to see how she's doing. We left on good terms, but aren't in contact. So i'd be curious how she is doing, she has a special place in my heart.

[IslaTheWitch]

Nah... we would laugh of unexpected meeting and exchange some jokes after presenting our partners

[TonyMetal___86]

I do not like to see my ex at all but if she suddenly popped out in front of me out of nowhere, if she says hi, i'll say hi and only respond to her question in a brief way and try to go away fast in a way or another...

[dustybiker2]

I never had a bad break. So prob the same with the nod.

[exitseven]

It never happened but I would ignore her and pretend she is not there. If she came over to me and wanted to talk I would be minimumly polite

[RavVid]

No. I would say something nice and introduce her replacement.

[LavLavLuv]

[Phoenix98]

Wouldn't do anything I have no interest in engaging with them.

[msc545]

I have run into my ex several times. We just say hi. Not a big deal.

[Nikki1989]

Mine live all over the world, so that is very unlikely.

[Anonymous]

Walk the other direction. Hoping she didn't see me.

[laly520]

walk in opposite direction

[sheikalana]

Do absolutely nothing and carry on with my life.

[Ms_Facesitter]

Hello, small talk and keeping it short.

[sirderpsalot123]

Ignore her