Does he see me just as a friend that he playfully flirts with or are there are feelings there? What does it all mean, guys?

Anonymous
I feel a bit silly asking this question at my age (I'm 29 years old, for goodness sake!), but this guy is really confusing me.

We've been friends for about a year and a half and I'm sure that my male friend is flirting with me. What I'm unsure of is how serious his flirting is. Is he flirting with me for the fun of it, or is there something serious in it?

He is constantly play fighting with me and even bites me when we are play fighting and yet at other times he's really sweet with me. I was nervous about going on a boating trip with a few of our friends for my birthday and so he held my hand to try and comfort me. He also hugs me a lot and kisses me on my forehead. I've only seen him do this with one other person and it was our mutual male friend and he does it as a joke. This male friend of ours is convinced that he likes me, but I don't know wether or not to take him seriously as our friend is always joking about people having the hots for others.

I know he's a big flirt. The first time I spoke to him he flirted with me and knew my name even though I'd never spoken to him before. He's told me that he's in love with someone else but that it's hopeless with this other girl (I've met her) as she has a boyfriend and no longer lives in our state.

We are quite close and often talk about personal stuff and he's usually the one to initiate conversations online and via text/phone calls.

I just don't know if he sees me just as a friend that he playfully flirts with or if there are feelings there.

I know there isn't a lot you guys can tell me because you don't know us or the situation, but any feedback would be super.
Updates
+1 y
Oh, another strange thing he did was in a bar. He was sat across from me and called my name. I looked at him, expecting to say something, but he just looked at me smiling and said nothing. What's that all about?
Does he see me just as a friend that he playfully flirts with or are there are feelings there? What does it all mean, guys?
2 Opinion