How to Tell If Your Guy Friend is Into You

Whether it’s possible for everyone to be “just friends” is often up for debate, but technically, yes, it’s possible. That doesn’t mean, however, that when you see a guy as just a friend that he isn’t silently and painfully crushing on you from the sidelines. It can take a lot of time for friends to share their feelings (if they ever do), because once you start that conversation, things can get a little complicated. Here are some signs your male bestie might actually have more lusty intentions on his mind.

  1. He’s stopped talking about other girls. When you guys first started hanging out, you bonded over your masterful pick up skills and once even had a competition to see who could get more phone numbers in a night. But now that you think about it, he doesn’t really fill you in about his random hookups anymore, probably because he’s not having them.
  2. He’s happy just staying in with you.  A bunch of your friends are heading to a birthday party but you’re totally wiped from the week. While none of your girl friends could be persuaded to stay home on a Friday night, your guy friend offered to keep you company without hesitation. He’s not out on the prowl because he already has a great girl in his sight.
  3. He hides his hot friends from you. He’s been friends with this total hottie Sean since college and somehow you’ve never met the guy, even though they hang out all the time. Occasionally you’ll get a glimpse of all these mystery cute guys when he posts photos on Instagram, but he never invites them around when he’s spending time with you.
  4. He takes care of you. If your car got towed, he’d be the first person you’d call because he’d not only know exactly how to handle the situation (and keep you calm), but he’d also be over in about five minutes to help you deal.
  5. He remembers everything you’ve told him. That must have been years ago that you mentioned your childhood dog, Rocky, but he totally remembered that he was a golden retriever. These aren’t random facts to him, these are the things that make up the sum of who you are.
  6. He’s not into the guys you date. He might not jump in here and straight up tell you he doesn’t like him, but he also isn’t shy about voicing that you always deserve better (even when they seem pretty awesome to everyone else). He’s so certain that you can do better because he thinks he’s a better option.
  7. He runs boring errands with you. You’ve got to run the drugstore to get mascara and tampons and he’s not only up for it, he drives you there. Your guy friend doesn’t care what you guys do together as long as he gets to spend time with you.
  8. He always ends up sleeping over. You can’t even remember how many times he’s crashed on your couch and even in your bed next to you – but it’s cool, you guys are buddies! Except that guys who are dating other women generally don’t risk their relationships by sleeping at another girl’s house, no matter how platonic they can describe the sleeping arrangement.
  9. He’s cool with your mom. Your guy friend doesn’t just have an interest in spending time with you, he also likes getting to know your family. You thought you found the perfect solution to not having a date to bring home for Thanksgiving, but he’s seeing it as an opportunity to get in good with the rents.
  10. He won’t stop touching you. Of course platonic friends touch each other, but you know there’s a difference. Those lingering hugs goodbye, the hand on your back when you walk into the bar, the occasional leg pat when you’re sitting next to each other. Pay attention to how he touches other people (if ever) to get a feel for how physically close he stays to you.
  11. He doesn’t do gross stuff in front of you. You’ve had platonic guy friends that were like your brothers, where you had to deal with the farting, burping, scarfing, and hitting. This boy friend however, doesn’t act like a total animal in front of you. It’s not because he isn’t comfortable with you either…it’s because he doesn’t think of you like a sister.
Kate Ferguson is a Los Angeles local and freelance writer for a variety of blog and magazine genres. When she's not writing, the UC Davis graduate is focused on pursuits of the entertainment industry, spin class, and hot sauce. Look for article links, updates, (and the occasional joke) on Twitter @KateFerg or @WriterKateFerg, or check out her personal blog ThatsRandomKate.blogspot.com
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