As the festive season draws to a close, you may still be nursing a New Year’s Eve hangover.
But as the countdown to 2026 began, did you find yourself worrying less about the fireworks and more about who was standing next to your husband when the clock struck midnight?
We tend to assume the danger comes from the obvious places: the nanny, the secretary, the woman at the gym.
But what if the person getting a little too close was your best friend?
It’s a disturbing truth that something undeniably wrong can still feel exciting. A crush between a husband and a friend can be charged with desire precisely because it crosses a line.
As a relationship counsellor and psychotherapist, I know how vital trust is – not just in your marriage, but in your friendships too. I also know how close proximity breeds intimacy, and intimacy can tip into attraction.
So how can you tell if your friend’s interest in your husband goes beyond the – latonic? Here are the signs you might have missed – and what to do if your suspicions won’t go away…
Relationship counsellor and psychotherapist Charlotte Fox Weber says close proximity breeds intimacy, and intimacy can tip into attraction
If your friend constantly overshares about her sex life, makes explicit jokes, or flirts under the guise of humour, she may be trying to reframe how your husband sees her
DO YOU HONESTLY TRUST HIM?
Before anything else, ask yourself why you’re worried.
If you don’t trust your husband’s fidelity, it’s worth considering whether you’re projecting that fear on to an innocent friend.
That said, women rarely pursue men they believe are completely unavailable. If you sense your husband might stray, your friend may have picked up on that, too. If you don’t trust that he would shut down her advances, her intentions deserve closer scrutiny.
THERE’S A RIVALRY THAT’S HISTORIC
You may be reading this in disbelief. Surely a close friend wouldn’t betray you like that?
But female friendship can be far more complex than we like to admit. A friend’s interest in your husband isn’t always about attraction alone – it can be about settling a half-forgotten score.
Rivalries linger. Envy simmers. And sometimes the urge to compete finds its most destructive outlet at home.
Let’s be honest: competition can be intoxicating. Put yourself in the shoes of the so-called ‘homewrecker’. Getting a man to stray from his wife can feel powerfully affirming – proof of desirability, superiority, control.
If there has always been an undercurrent of rivalry in your friendship, it may not even be about him at all, but about getting one over on you.
SHE ALWAYS TAKES HIS SIDE
When you’re venting about your husband’s inability to load the dishwasher or organise the children’s birthday presents, does your friend rush to defend him?
Of course, good friends offer perspective. But if you can’t have a cathartic moan without her leaping to his defence, it may point to wavering loyalty and misplaced affection.
SHE SAYS YOU’RE ‘TOO GOOD FOR HIM’
If you confide in her about marital difficulties, does she seem oddly energised rather than concerned?
She may frame it as empowerment – encouraging you to leave a relationship she deems ‘toxic’ or ‘not good enough’. While that advice can sometimes be well-intentioned, it can also serve another purpose: clearing the path.
If your instinct tells you to stop sharing details of your marriage with her, listen to it. She may be collecting information, learning where the cracks are… and what your husband might be missing.
SEXUALLY-CHARGED STORIES? BEWARE!
Men are often more visually and sexually driven than they like to admit.
If your friend constantly overshares about her sex life, makes explicit jokes, or flirts under the guise of humour, she may be trying to reframe how your husband sees her.
Those stories aren’t accidental. They plant ideas.
THEY HAVE A BOND THAT EXCLUDES YOU
If you discover they’ve been texting, meeting, or spending time together without your knowledge, alarm bells should ring. Even if their friendship is innocent, secrecy creates intimacy – and intimacy creates opportunity.
I once worked with a woman who was grateful when her best friend offered to motivate her husband to start jogging. The two bonded over regular runs. Within a year, both marriages were over.
SO, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
A word of caution. In my experience, people often look outward for betrayal rather than inward at their own discomfort. Before making accusations, ask yourself whether guilt, resentment or dissatisfaction in your marriage might be fuelling your fears.
If you’re genuinely secure in both your relationship and your friendship, doing nothing may be the wisest course.
If the unease persists, address it calmly and directly. Try something simple, like telling her: ‘I’ve got the sense there may be a crush developing, and it’s making me uncomfortable.’
You can’t prevent attraction. But you can be clear about expectations – and about the reassurance you need.
In healthy marriages, innocent crushes can pass without consequence. And yes, sometimes knowing your partner is desirable can inject fresh energy into your sex life.
But trust your instincts. When something feels off, it usually is.
