Coworker flirts with me but rejected me?

Anonymous

I know the age old phrase to not shit where you eat. I just went against it because I work a retail job that is temporary before a permanent one.

Basically my boss was extremely flirty and we had good humor and friendship chemistry anyways. Nothing sexual. Everyone notes that he acts different around me. Though, no favoritism -- I wouldn't like it anyways.

I accidentally ended up asking him out. I've heard that he has directly rejected others in the past. For me, instead of just telling me no directly, he just told me he's my boss and that he has to keep the other coworkers happy (understandable). It hurt because he obviously flirted with me first despite knowing his position.

Even if he actually liked me, it was the worst way to phrase things. I would've preferred him to be direct.

Even though I'm trying to be neutral and professional, he is trying really hard to be friendly to me. Everytime I walk past or he thinks I don't notice, he looks at me.

How do I approach this? Continue to be normal? He isn't really letting it be normal or at least I feel like he doesn't want to let go of what we had previously

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Addendum: I assumed he did like me because he would stumble over his words, be a deer in headlights when he runs into me, he broke the touch barrier. He would look at me when he thinks I don't know.

I know he's single. Hell, people who knew him said there's no way he doesn't like me.

Coworker flirts with me but rejected me?
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