Can’t tell if a guy likes me as more than a friend?

[Anonymous]

Been friends with this guy for about 6 months now. For a while we just casually talked, we had some mutual friends and it didn’t mean much to me. Over the past 2 months I've started to have deeper feelings for him and sometimes I think he’s reciprocating but it’s hard to tell

We have so much in common and we’ll constantly talk about how we’re practically the same person. He’s super complimentary and will tell me Im smart, amazing, and great to talk to. In our group chat with friends we’ll constantly end up going off into our own convo and sometimes playfully bickering. Over the last week in our solo chat we’ve been talking about multiple things at once and will send paragraphs to each other discussing. We dont message like immediately but usually a few hours in between since we both have corporate jobs. Sometimes we’ll be messaging and then also DMing on Instagram. I've noticed he does keep the convo going and will ask questions.

we haven't explicitly flirted from what i can tell. I've been trying to hold back and not come off too strong or spook him. I can't tell if he’s complimenting me because he likes me or he’s just genuinely a great person

any advice or thoughts are appreciated!

[coldmarch]

It is indeed a tricky situation to understand. I would say there are good chances, but they're just chances, not a confirmation.
I had almost all male friends in my life (straight and not) and many. I have a masculine mindset for some things and many of my interests/hobbies are usually "males-only", or anyway I face those interests with a "manly" mindset (technical, competitive, oriented to build solutions etc), so I found myself to be very compatible with guys and almost not compatible at all with gals. Guys were often surprised/pleased to find a like-minded female friend, so I got that "enthusiasm" you're receiving, too, most of the times. And I can say that enthusiasm is not necessarily a hint of a romantic/sexual interest. I got a situation where I had a crush on someone who was praising our similarity and enjoying interacting with me everyday more than with anyone else, but in the end I wasn't reciprocated on "that side". His chemistry wasn't there, towards me, as he spontaneously preferred absent-minded, beautiful, simple and very feminine girls, but he preferred me for anything else outside from the sexual/romantic sphere, which just means I was a cool best friend for him. Sometimes guys are just pleased they can finally express their appreciation and esteem for someone freely, as they feel refrained to do it with guys. A female friend can be a channel, for them, to explore their more frivolous/emotive side more freely than with guys. So no wonder they enjoy genuine female friendships, regardless, when they find one.
And, beside the gender, you can be simply an interesting and intellectual person regardless, who is enjoyable for males and females.
Said that, I would say to wait before making your fantasies to grow. Chances exist, but at the same time he might have already friendzoned you in his mind, without even noticing.
I think you can get good indicators in these ways: observe if he ever talked about past/current other female friends. Is he used to have female friends? If not, then probably he means deeper interactions with women together with "potential partner". Another thing is: is your friendship based on discussions of topics or also on mutual care / protection / belonging? If this last aspect is present, chances are much higher for you. Another: from how much time he is single? Did he overcome the breakup with the last woman? Is he in a phase where he could be potentially look around for a new partner?
In any case I have a big suggestion: do NOT play games with him to understand how things are. It looks like you have a great communication, don't start being a m***n trying to make him jealous or playing suddenly hard to get, to investigate his feelings. Rather, if you want to investigate, invite him to do activities together in the weekends that could extend to the evening, but not like an official "date", just like something you'd invite a friend to. You'd gather more data in that circumstance, and strengthen the bond, or he might do something romantic to make it obvious, even.
Otherwise, let him understand his feelings (for sure he wonders, at least sometimes, how he feels about you), and to let him tell by himself. But I think letting him do steps in a real life context feels better and more natural than making him declare it by words in a chat.
Anyway, if after too many interactions from now you still don't know, maybe you should ask him what is his perception of you, alongside with the fact that you feel like you're at a fork where you either stay good friends, or become something more, as your interactions become more and more confidential and personal.

[Ghen30]

There's a chance he might like you. MIGHT. It never hurts to ask him. Talk to him before someone snatches him away?

[Guy13]

Just ask him…softly in his ear 👂

[In_Trance]

Guys never want to be friends

[Jltakk]

Why not just ask him?