Guys, when a girl you like starts pulling back, does it pull you in?

[coco489]

The guy I'm seeing is dealing with a loved one being diagnosed terminally, throwing him off in every way (previous post). Here's where things are now:

-I was the one who was initiating more convos since the news

-He asked me what I was doing the one night and when I answered with my non-important plans, he didn't follow up

-Turned out his friend had an extra concert ticket and he thought my response meant I was unavailable

-After giving him a (joking) hard time on the phone for missing out on the concert, I texted him after saying he should come over to make up for it

-No answer all night

-Next day I came across a relevant quote on IG, sent it to him and asked if we were ok

-He responded with paragraphs saying that this is why he tried to end things initially because he knows the state he's in is unfair to me, he doesn't have much he can give right now, but that yes in his mind we're good, he still cares about, enjoys, and appreciates me, he just hasn't reached any clarity in terms of what he wants in a relationship

-I apologized for possibly being too much in my attempts to be there for him, told him he knows where I stand but I'm going to be giving him more space

-He answered hours later saying "Don't worry about giving me too much or too little space, try not to worry about me at all, I'm doing what I'm doing and I don't want to have to feel apologetic about it. Right now my focus is me, it's selfish but it has to be. Work is demanding, my goals are close at hand, and I don't want my life to feel complicated"

-To which I simply replied "Aye aye captain" because that, to me, screamed that he needed space

-He continued with the convo as usual, asking how my day was

Since then he's been the one to initiate more convos again, seems more present, and after sending me a song in the morning, joking around as usual, then not talking for half the day yesterday, I get a goodnight text before bed. Could my attempt to give him space really be prompting this?

Yes

No

Updates

+1 y

I know he wants to see me and is fighting it for ridiculous reasons, but I would love to just ask him to hang out again. And I would if I didn't feel like merely bringing up that I'd be giving him more space is what has motivated him to make more effort to move forward again! I'm so torn.

[brocklee]

I steer into the skid.. so if she pulls away, I back off. Every. Time.

[Iloveapplepies34]

No it will not cause a man to be pulled in he either wants her or not