I (21M) dated my ex (21F) for about two years. We met in college and shared a big group of mutual friends because she’s very social. We broke up a few months ago, pretty mutual, no drama, and we still see each other sometimes through that same group.
This semester I have a class with one of her close friends. We’ve been working on projects together and ended up getting along really well. She’s funny, kind, easy to talk to, and I can tell there’s a bit of mutual interest. I’d like to ask her out, but since she’s close with my ex, I don’t know how to approach it without making things weird.
I keep overthinking how to talk about it. Should I bring it up and ask if she’s okay with the situation, or just take things slow and see how it goes? I don’t want to make her uncomfortable, but I also don’t want to ignore the tension and pretend it’s nothing. I really like spending time with her, I just don’t know the right way to talk about it.
Has anyone been through something similar? How did you handle the conversation part without it turning awkward?
Edit:
Just wanted to add a bit more context. My ex and I ended things on good terms. Even when we were together, it felt more like a close friendship than a real relationship. We got along well but never really had that spark, and I think we both kind of knew it.
As for her friend, this isn’t anything casual for me. I genuinely like her. We didn’t have many deep conversations before, but spending more time together lately made me realize how much I enjoy her perspective. It’s honestly amazing how she sees things. I think she enjoys talking with me too, and if there’s a real chance between us, I don’t want to let it pass.
What I really want is to handle this with honesty and care. I don’t want to hurt anyone or cause drama in our friend group. I’d rather be open about it and understand how she feels instead of just struggling with it. If she’s not comfortable with taking things further, I’ll completely respect that and just stay friends. I just don’t know how to start that kind of conversation without making things awkward for her or anyone else. That’s why I’m here asking for advice on how to talk about it in the right way