Knowing the difference between someone simply being friendly and shamelessly flirting with you is tricky. Of course, you don’t want to jump to conclusions and make something out of nothing, but at the same time, you need to know what’s happening so you can decide how to react, especially if you know he’s already in a relationship. Here are some very clear signs that while he may be taken, he’s definitely interested in you on more than a platonic level.
- He can’t seem to break eye contact with you. A tell-tale sign that he’s interested in being more than just friends is when he doesn’t look away from you. Most people will look away or take pauses during the conversation because it’s a natural habit. But have you noticed that when you are interested in someone, you want to maintain eye contact? If this happens often or he always looks to you in a room full of people, then that speaks volumes.
- He goes out of his way to see you or speak to you. Someone who’s happy in their relationship wouldn’t be trying to speak to you at every chance they can get. If he conveniently bumps into you at random places or gets invited to the same events that you do, there could be something more going on. It could be his way of showing you that he’s interested, except he’s going about it the wrong way.
- He finds any reason to make physical contact. It might seem harmless or just a friendly gesture for him to put his hand on your shoulder but in his mind, it could be more than that. If he’s interested in you and wants you to know it, this could be his way of showing it. As he’s already in a relationship, he has to be careful about what he does and says so he doesn’t cross a line. The problem is he’s already crossed a line!
- He focuses more on you than his partner. When you’re talking to each other, does he ever stop to mention his partner? If he doesn’t, this could be a sign that he’s flirting with you and letting you know that he’s still available. Let’s face it, if he mentions his partner or anything about his relationship during the conversation, it’s going to look like he’s not interested. You’ll think he’s a man who’s in a happy, fulfilled relationship and move on. So instead, he’s looking for a way to keep his options open and keep you on your toes.
- He texts you all the time. Sure, it’s fine to text someone while you’re in a relationship, but there’s a line between what’s acceptable and what isn’t. If he texts you every single day and never makes an attempt to end the conversation, that’s a very clear sign that he’s interested in you. Pay attention to his texts as well. Does he send suggestive messages or emojis? Does he often tease you? That tells you all you need to know.
- He often hands out compliments. When someone is trying to flirt with you, one of their go-to methods is to give you a compliment. Some compliments can be made as a friendly gesture, but if he’s frequently lavishing you with praise on your appearance then that’s a sign he’s interested in you. Keep in mind that he is probably giving the exact compliments to other people.
- He looks for compliments. It’s not just about giving compliments, he’s probably looking for compliments in return. For some men who are in relationships, flirting with someone else gives their ego a boost and makes them feel more desirable. Perhaps his relationship doesn’t fulfill him, which is why he looks for attention from others. Either way, he’s definitely letting you know that he’s interested.
- He buys you random gifts. It’s one thing if he buys you a birthday present, but if he’s buying you gifts for no reason then there’s something more going on. Chances are, he’s trying to make it obvious that he likes you and wants something more than friendship. After all, shouldn’t he be buying his partner gifts rather than you?
- Your friends notice his behavior. If it’s not clear whether he’s being nice or flirting with you, then you can always rely on your friends to help. Your friends can see the small details that you can’t. Ask them to read his texts or even come with you to meet him and see what they think. They can pick up on things like body language, facial expressions, and the way he talks to you compared to others. If they think he’s definitely flirting with you, then trust their opinion. They’re probably right!
- You feel uncomfortable about it. Trust your gut in this situation. If talking to him and being around him is making you feel uncomfortable or awkward then there’s a good reason for that. You can choose to confront him about it and see what he says. Or you can simply break off all contact. The ball is in your court – not his.
