Buying you flowers, paying for your dinner, making uninterrupted eye contact with you — these are all classic signs a guy likes you.
Those three signs that he’s into you are so “run of the mill” they are impossible to mistake.
However, relationships aren’t always black and white, and figuring out if a guy likes you isn’t so simple. If you’re asking yourself, “does he like me?” you aren’t alone.
Aside from the telltale signs of affection, there are a few unexpected ways to tell if a guy likes you but is hiding it.
Since every relationship is as different as the people in them, it’s impossible to generalize the exact signs he likes you. The way your potential partner acts around you may be completely different than the behavior of an ex at the beginning of your relationship, which can cause you to question whether or not he really likes you at all.
Believe it or not, the nuanced, subtle signs that you might not expect are oftentimes even more powerful indicators of someone’s true feelings than the grand gestures or stereotypical come-ons. Sometimes, you can tell a man is interested in you by how frequently he DMs you on social media. Engaging in physical contact and acting weird or awkward around you are true signs a guy likes you more than a friend.
Instead of calling it quits because your new partner isn’t giving you the cues you expected, take a step back and evaluate their behavior.
Here are 7 obvious signs he likes you but is hiding it.
1. He follows through.
In the beginning stages of a relationship, many people are focused on building trust and will go to great lengths to follow through on promises.
Although many people expect lavish promises at the beginning of a new relationship, the opposite might be true. If your crush calls when they say they’ll call, or follow through in other ways, you can assume that your relationship means something to them. Especially if he stays in regular contact in between dates.
Please for the love of all things good in this world, do not waste your time with someone who sends you mixed signals.
If he owns up to the fact that he isn’t ready for a relationship because he’s afraid of commitment, be warned. You deserve someone who is ready to give you his full attention.
2. He takes it slow.
Although passion and speed might be common at the start of a new relationship, slowness isn’t a bad thing when it comes to relationships.
In fact, if someone wants to take it slow, it’s good news. It’s probably because the fear of messing things up with you is greater than their desire to get too intimate too soon.
3. You cultivate a friendship first.
Similar to taking it slow, if you have a genuine friendship established before jumping into anything romantic, you can rest assured the connection goes way deep beyond a crush.
Trust is the foundation of every relationship, and trust must be built slowly over time. If he spends time getting to know the real you and pays attention to your conversations, he’s definitely interested.
4. He acts awkward around you.
If your crush seems to be calm, cool, and confident in front of everyone else but you, they might just like you more than you think. It’s common for people to be unsure of how to act in a new relationship, even when they typically seem to have it all together.
He might hide the fact he adores you because he wants to play it cool in front of his friends. Or, he hides his feelings because he doesn’t want to make a big deal out of everything too soon.
All of these: appearing to lose confidence around you, not knowing how to act, or hiding his feeling from friends can all cause awkwardness.
You might think his awkward acts are a bad sign, but rest assured the body language signs will all be there if he is into you.
5. He acts ‘formulaic’ around you.
In one of his YouTube coaching videos, relationship coach Clayton Olson said that “formulaic” behavior is a bizarre behavior that a potential partner will sometimes exhibit at the beginning of a relationship.
This, he explained, means they will follow an already established formula when it comes to your interactions, avoiding spontaneity or situations where they don’t feel comfortable.
Although it may make you feel like he is being too reserved or boring, it’s simply a way to mask his initial feelings of being outside his comfort zone.
6. He mirrors your movements.
Mimicry has to do with a lot more than sympathy (i.e. the way we reel back sympathetically when someone gets hurt) it has something to do with affection too.
One study from the American Psychological Association noted that subtle mirroring is a way to understand intentions and actions in another person.
When he mirrors your actions, gestures, and even speech patterns, it shows that he is paying close attention to you and seeking to establish a deeper connection. Subconscious mirroring shows a desire for connection and that he is attuned to your behavior and wants to create a sense of familiarity.
7. He doesn’t mind dealing with inconveniences to be near you.
Is he willing to drive extra long hours to be with you for a short amount of time?
Choosing to overlook inconveniences demonstrates a commitment and prioritization of you being in his life. It shows he values your company and indicates a genuine interest for a deeper connection.
If things that would normally seem like an inconvenience aren’t a big deal to him, chances are, he is head over heels.
Olivia Youngs is a full-time writer passionate about inspiring others to live simply.
This article was originally published at Romper. Reprinted with permission from the author.
