This might be long and rambling—just a heads up.
There’s this guy I’ve known for years and we’ve only been friends but mess with each other a lot. We went to the same school together through 6th-12th grade. He’s super nice, goofy, fun, and nerdy but we always had different friend groups that only overlapped once in a blue moon. So we didn’t really connect until I moved away for college. During that time we started messaging a lot and talking almost everyday online. Now I’m back home for a bit and we’ve been hanging out in person—just the two of us.
When we hang out he always insists to pay, buys me food, and is never on his phone. It just feels like we’re getting more comfortable with each other but the last two times we hung out I was getting more than that. (Or I’m just overthinking it)
He took me out for what was supposed to be a super casual lunch after my birthday but he ended up taking me to a nicer restaurant, the mall, park, and stayed with me past midnight. (Also bought me almost 100 dollars worth of chocolate) He wouldn’t let me pay for anything and literally became my personal shopping bag holder 💀. It was super sweet. One of the things he did though that still irks me is that he took my ring. He not only wore it to work the next day but still has it. Think it’s because he mentioned trying to buy me one. Then he said he might reconsider it because he didn’t want his family or people asking questions? (They’re old fashioned I guess)
The most recent hang out I invited him to a concert which was …maybe questionable on my part. I just wanted someone to go with. We ended up having a great time and he had his arms around me the whole time.
I wanted him to dance with me so we held hands while I leaned my back into his chest. We were sort of swaying and dancing together like that. I thought he’d pull away but he didn’t. (For context he doesn’t like it when people touch let alone hug him so we’ve had to work up to it) We stayed pressed up against each other like that for the whole concert. There were a few times he leaned his head down into my neck and held me if I stumbled a bit (we were both drinking lol). Then when the concert ended it felt like there was a shift because he tried to let go of my hand. I had to smack myself mentally and remember it’s not casual to keep doing that. He also let me wear his jacket this time and even put it down on a seat for me so my ass wouldn’t get wet outside the venue. Just being a gentlemen I guess or super respectful.
The same day he also let me come over to his house and tattoo something on his back. Whole time he was shirtless but I just assumed he felt pretty comfortable with me. Although when he dropped me off later that night he did something that surprised me. I was making a joke about stabbing myself with a toothpick when I was hugging him in his truck. For some reason he took it seriously and leaned back to grab my face to see if I was okay. He took it out of my mouth but the contact and the way he sounded just stun locked me I guess. I hugged him again after it and he walked me to my door. He always does that when he drops me off.
Sooo can someone tell me if this is just super duper casual please? I’m somewhat hoping I’m delusional