True, talking a lot could just be a sign he sees you as a friend, but that’s nothing to sneeze at, either. Not talking to you often, though? That’s probably a sign he’s not super invested. When you text him and get a reply from him within 10 seconds, it means that he’s eager to talk to you.
Whether he’s sneaking glances at you from across the room or staring deep into your eyes while you’re talking, if he can’t stop watching you, he’s probably fallen for you.
If he talks to you like you’re the only person in the world and seems happy to be talking to you, then he may have a crush on you.
If you want to encourage him, return the favor and laugh at his dumb jokes too. (Unless you don’t want him to like you, in which case stop being so hilarious. )
It’s possible he might even come off a little arrogant, which is a turn-off, sure, but it’s possible he’s putting on airs because he’s nervous. If he’s normally pretty humble and chill, consider cutting him some slack.
Speaking softly could also be a sign that he’s shy around you—also a good sign! If he really likes you, he may struggle to be confident around you.
On the other hand, if he brags to you about other girls flirting with him, he could be trying to make you jealous. Love, am I right?
Look out for nonverbal compliments too. Does he laugh at your dumb jokes (as aforementioned), smile when you turn in his direction, light up like a Christmas tree when you walk in the room? These are all ways of saying he appreciates you.
Not only will he ask you about yourself, he’ll remember what you said. Does he return to conversations you had yesterday or last week, or does he seem to not remember what you talked about?
Don’t take this to mean that if a guy is a jerk, he’s got the hots for you. Being rude could be a sign of affection, but if he can only show he likes you by being a jerk, he’s not worth your time. A guy who pays attention to you will also be sensitive enough to know what to tease you about and what to avoid.
Of course, if he’s always telling you about girls he likes or dates he’s been on, he might just see you as a friend and want to confide in you. But if he’s always complaining about women he’s dating or says, “None of them are what I’m looking for,” then he may be hinting that you’re the one. Observe how he talks about other girls around you to decide how you should react: is he trying to make you jealous? Or are you getting jealous because you like him?
Notice how he sits next to you. Does he always try to move closer until your knees touch, or is he sitting miles away? Does he get physical if you’re playing a friendly game of volleyball or soccer, and does he always ask you to be his partner when it’s time for chicken fights in the pool? Observe how often he touches other people. Does he put his arm around everyone, or only you?
It’s about more than his body language when he’s speaking to you. Is he frequently facing your direction even when you’re not engaged in conversation? If his attention is focused on you, his whole body will show it: his feet and chest will be turned toward you, and he might keep his arms open, rather than crossed, to convey engagement.
Is he thoughtful? Does he bring you coffee when you’re having an intense study session, or get tickets for a movie you hinted that you want to see? If so, then he’s probably hanging on to your every word and just wants to make you happy.
See if he’s a perpetual flirt. Does he flirt with everyone in the room, or only you? You can also look for the opposite sign. Does he flirt with everyone except for you? Then maybe he’s not flirting with you because you’re the only one he really likes. He may respect you too much or be too nervous to tease you.
If he sends you a lot of emoticons when he’s texting, then he’s flirting with you. If he’s always playfully hitting you or giving you a gentle shove, then he’s flirting with you.
Does he act like you’re the only person in the room when you’re hanging out in big groups? If you’re at a party or concert and he spends most of the night talking to you, then he definitely wants to get closer to you.
If it’s always just the two of you, then he may see you as crush material. But if he’s always inviting 10 of his closest bros along, then he may see you just as another friend.
Does he invite you to spend time in romantic locations like gardens, nicer wine bars, or places where you see couples hanging out for date nights? If so, then he may want to take your friendship to the dating realm. Notice when he wants to hang out as well. Is he inviting you out to brunch, or does he ask you to dinner on a Friday night? Daytime hangs aren’t necessarily red flags (who doesn’t love brunch?), but nighttime is usually more romantic.
Ask a friend to study the two of you next time you’re together and to report back. Just make sure the friend isn’t being too obvious. Tell your friends to be honest. If they really don’t think he likes you, or even know that he likes someone else, then you should benefit from the truth. Ask your friends to do a little spying: if you’ve got a buddy who’s in his next class, ask them to see if he flirts with anyone in that class or if they ever hear him talking about you.
Though this is a riskier step, his friends will have a better answer than your friends, since they have firsthand information from your guy. This could also be a strategic move on your part: if you want him to know you like him but don’t want to tell him directly, asking his friend if he likes you could be a sneaky way to let him know how you feel, since there’s a chance they’ll tell him you like him.
Find some time to be alone with him. Make sure you don’t ask him when his friends are looking over your shoulder. Be honest and open. Just say you have a crush on him and want to know if he shares your feelings. If he doesn’t feel the same way, that’s totally fine! At least you know and can move on. You should only do this if you’re pretty sure that he likes you. If he has exhibited multiple signs of liking you, then be bold and ask him.
