Why would a hug turn into a handshake?

[Anonymous]

I know I should just ask him, but maybe I could get a little insight first.

my crush and I interact often. I catch him staring a lot, and have had people tell me they think he likes me. Well, awhile back he initiated a hug before leaving. He did this every time we’d see each other. Then one day we were leaving and I initiated the hug first. My friend who saw this said he looked embarrassed. Now he doesn’t initiate a hug and before I can he sticks his hand out for a hand shake. I started to avoid him but he will seek me out to greet me or converse a bit. But the hugs were nice.. now it feels like we are just business associates. lol

I'm worried I may have creeped him out.

any insight from anyone who has experienced similar? lol

[DaveJord]

So normally, I would say that guy switched to the handshake because he was not getting a good vibe from you. Like yes, the hugs were meant to mean something, but then nothing ever came of them, so he went to the handshakes. Kind of sending a message... liked you, but I was not getting the lets date vibe so best to keep it platonic.

But then you mentioned a boyfriend... trust me guys know. A look from a boyfriend who seriously suspects what you're up to can change everything. I mean look at you now, you were conditioned to the physical touch. Now he is pulling back and it's in your head now. And now you boyfriend is saying something about it.

I mean you did not creep him out, your boyfriend did, and honestly, I cannot blame him. You can say it was only a hug and it didn't mean anything... but that would not be true, would it? If it meant nothing, then you would not be missing the hugs or questioning the handshakes. Hugs are for boy freinds.

[Asker]

No boyfriend… it was my female friend! lol

[DaveJord]

OH... then he stopped hugging you because he might think you are catching feelings, or he might have stopped because it was not progressing. You should ask him about that, unless you ar totally not interested. If you are not interested then leave it be.

[DryGermanGuy]

Did you grab his butt? :-P

But seriously, I am not the biggest fan of "random" hugs either, especially out in public.

[Asker]

Hahahaha the way he received it… you’d think so!! Haha