Probability that this guy likes me and at least wants to try being friends?

[Anonymous]

I have been curious about a guy I work with. If I'm not mistaken, there seems to be a chance that he may have some interest in me.

We work in a warehouse environment. I work in a department where we work in our own sections. He is an equipment operator and EVERY time he drives by my section, he looks my way. Not just occasionally - every single time, without fail. He looks my way even if he's just walking around. The other operators don't do this to the extent he does at all. MAYBE an occasional glance when they go by but not all the time, every time. Most don't pay any attention at all.

I try to make it a point to return his gaze. I will even look his way if he isn't looking, then very often I'll look back and he'll be looking my way.

I haven't had a chance to talk to him. He does come in my department quite a bit to drop stuff off and things like that, so there are windows of opportunity. I am just kind of nervous to start a conversation with him. I don't want to be annoying or weird. I had a chance to say something today, but I screwed up. I was leaving and he was coming my way. We both stopped, he let me go first and he gave me a smile. He had never smiled at me before. I smiled back, but I felt stupid for not telling him to have a good weekend or something just to break the chat barrier.

I'm rusty with dating as I got out of a long-term relationship 6 months ago. I would like to talk to this guy and evaluate the situation. I'd like to test it to see if he really is checking me out and stuff.

He seems like a nice guy and I do have interest in getting to know him and being friends. If he's single, I'd consider going further and trying to go on a date at some point once we had a chance to talk.

I haven't had a chance to find out if he's single. I assume he probably is, but I do know some guys are jerks and check out other girls/flirt even if they do have a girlfriend.

How can I get him to approach me? How can I see if he wants to at least be friends?

[spartan55]

Don't ask to be his friend unless you want him to leave you alone. You are under the assumption that he has to approach you which is ridiculous. He has no idea you are interested, NONE.

[Asker]

I understand females can absolutely approach first. I just don't know the best way to do that. Like what type of excuse I could use that would be legit yet casual and not too invasive.

As an update, he actually did approach me today. He was over in my section dropping stuff off and he asked me to borrow something of mine that he should have had his own of. He kind of seemed like he was debating what to say and if he should go for it at first because he kind of hung around and walked back and forth a couple times before he actually came up to me. Then he asked me if he could borrow something. I let him and was friendly and causal, but not off-putting or overly excited and didn't make it seem like I wasn't into talking. I was "warm and welcoming" so to speak. When he asked, I said yes and gave him what he asked for. He gave me a little smile and thanked me and I said you're welcome. When he was done with it, he brought it over to me and I thanked him for giving it back and he said you're welcome. He seemed to relax a little more once I was friendly about it.

I notice that when he's around other girls, he seems pretty relaxed and chill. He talks freely and acts like nothing is going on at all. But with me, he does seem to be shy or something. He does a ton of staring as I said but until now, he had never really said anything to me. He never even smiled at me until recently. So I suppose it's possible he does indeed like me and is just nervous and unsure of my feelings. Plus, with all the sexual harassment and stuff now days, I understand guys can be REALLY leery to be too forward at work to avoid a potential problem if the girl doesn't like him back.

I want to subtly encourage him to keep finding ways to talk to me. I'd also like to find little reasons to talk to him without seeming obvious or weird.