I began to date a girl from work and things developed really well really quickly, however a few weeks ago our relationship peaked and since its been downhill since. She began to have stuff going on in her daily life at work and home that stressed her. She was distant as a result as she just needed space to herself. I seen her going distant and panicked and tried too hard. For 2 or 3 weeks when i would ask her to hang out she couldn't as she was busy (genuinely) however i just seen the distance and unavailability and overthought everything and became very needy and clingy.
She eventually snapped at me completely, no longer wanted to touch, would avoid me all together, hated talking to me, wouldn't reply to texts and it just got worse. 2 or 3 times she seemed to slowly open the door towards me again but i was far too eager and she'd slam it shut and told her friend she's finished.
I decided to take a step back to give it breathing space and now things are improving. We now text into the early morning and she's very responsive, she sends full face selfies, she initiates contact, she teases me and jokes with me in person and her eyes light up again when we speak. All the boxes are beginning to tic again but the last one i need is her to flirt with me. I'd make a reference to us sleeping together as an example and she'd respond 'you wish' or i'd joke that she can come and netflix and chill but i'd put a divider down the middle of the bed so we can ignore eachother and she'd say 'that would be fine by me hahaha'. When i'd flirt over text she doesn't shut it down or ignore it, and also doesn't delay responding but will respond quicker.
Its hard to describe it but it almost feels like she knows she has me by the neck and is enjoying toying with me almost like punishment, because she knows once she reciprocates any of the flirting then the connection is back. I know what she's like when guys text her and she's quite clear to them that its a no which is why im struggling
