I won't contact him before every possible encounter. That was the one and only time.

And it turned out very well! He was there initially, I saw him and he saw me, but then he quickly left the event. I feel that my text to him was a success. Not my intention for him to leave, but I was happy and comfortable for the rest of the night.

It was a boundary I set - yes, I said it once before, but he has violated that twice in the past and I did not want a repeat incident. The day before I had been filled with anxiety, feeling like a sitting duck for him to come pounce on. I felt it had to be said. And it worked, so that's a good thing.