On grindr, when a guy invites you over to give him a massage, is it actually a massage, or something more? I’m new to this and I know this app is for hookups usually so I don’t want to appear blunt and show up unprepared if ever massaging means something more than what it actually is
I (29M) met a guy (24M) while solo traveling in Monument Valley. He had this retro vibe, taking pics with a disposable film camera, asked me to take a photo of him, and we instantly clicked. Turns out we’re from the same country, spent the whole day together, had dinner, even camped together, watched the sunrise, etc. The connection felt unusually strong for two strangers.
He was sleeping in his car to save money, so I invited him to share my campsite/tent he accepted straight (gay?) away. That night things started feeling… ambiguous. He asked if he could sleep in underwear only, asked me to check a bug bite on his jacked chest, we stayed up talking for hours, compared hand sizes in the dark (lol), locked eyes during the night, etc. I tried to subtly hold his hand when we compared hands and he didn’t reciprocate, so I assumed I was reading too much into it, he’s hot so forgive me for fantasizing again…
The next morning he acted more distant and at one point, I caught a bombastic side eye that made me think maybe he realized I might not be straight, you know the look. But before leaving he still asked to hang out again if I ever came to LA. We took a picture and kindly asked me to not post it and not tag him on insta.
Fast forward: we met again in LA and spent 2 more days together doing activities, gym, beach, etc. He invited me to stay in his motel room, slept in underwear again, but this time nothing really “ambiguous” happened besides him awkwardly looking away when I changed clothes. We still had a great time and agreed to see each other again back home.
Later, he wanted to fly to visit me just to spend time together, even after I broke my ankle when the plan was already established. Told him I wouldn’t really be able to do much besides hospital visits. He literally said he still wanted to come and “talk at night it’s okay".
This whole thing genuinely messed with my head because I have zero experience with real life stuff. Do straight guys really form relationships like this with other guys while traveling? Was he curious? Was this just intense travel bonding? Or am I completely romanticizing normal male friendship?
TL;DR: Met a guy while solo traveling, instantly bonded, camped/shared tent together even though complete stranger, some moments that felt flirtatious, then reunited later in LA and stayed close after the trip. He wants to fly to see me again even just to talk, but nothing explicit ever happened. Am I delusional or was there actually some tension here?