Guy's Behavior

How to get over someone who sends mixed signals and why do people send them?

I've known this guy for almost 10 years now. At first I was only friends with his sibling. But now I know his whole family pretty well.

When I spend time with this family, he is very attentive to me, flirty and definitely tries to impress me. He stares across the room. His family also teases us about what seems like an obvious attraction. He also is extremely protective and has lashed out at friends for making innocent jokes at my expense.

When we are alone, he's is sometimes sweet to me but much more aloof, quiet and even gets irritated by minor things so I leave him be. He is very different when we aren't around his family. I still felt like he was a good guy.

Other times he will straight up ignore me. Unless I really need him, like if I have car trouble, etc he will always come help. But if I just reach out to just chat or try to hang out he will usually ignore me.

I finally confessed my feelings and he said he already isn't a great friend so he'd be a terrible boyfriend to me and that he only wants to be friends.

I tried to keep "just being friends" but it was painful. I told him I can't and just cut contact. I unfriended on social media accounts and stopped reaching out. We live in a small town so I'd avoid certain areas.

I would think about him a lot less. I've dated other people since. My current boyfriend is a great guy and I love him.

The other day, while I was spending time with my boyfriend I got a call from this same guy friend. I didn't even have his number saved anymore so I answered. It was him, asking me if I still lived in the area and wanting to know if I wanted to go see a show with him. Completely random. He has never initiated plans. I told him I already had plans. And that was it. I texted him a week or so afterwards and he ignored it.

Now I'm super lame and sick about him again and like I'm back at square one after a random phone call.

I just need some advice on mixed signals and how to really move on from things like this?

How to get over someone who sends mixed signals and why do people send them?
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