Search Results: being friends with your crush

We've known each other for about a year. We actually met online became good friends very soon after we met. I began liking him and admitted it a few months after, but at the time he said that he had put romance to the side because he's going through some big life changes at the moment. However, lately, I've noticed that things have changed between us, and even though my friends and I think he has a crush on me, I also worry that I'm misreading things.

Reasons why I think he might like me:

1. He initiates conversations with me more. Either tries putting a smile on my face with a cute picture or just messaged me to say hi and see how I'm doing. Texts me in the morning and in random parts of the day

2. He's flirted with me. He is one of the shyest guys I know, and I've never seen him flirt with anyone until the two of us started talking.

3. He gives me nicknames of endearment (dear, sweets, sweetheart, even called me babe)

4. He compliments me a lot. Calls me beautiful, cute, sweet, etc.

5. He gets excited about me liking the same shows and movies he likes

6. Always tells me I should go visit him and he is serious about wanting to visit me too. He recently moved to a new city and said that his new neighborhood would become more perfect if I were there.

7. Says he really loves me. One time when I told him how much I liked one of the nicknames he gave me, he said, "I like you"

Reasons I think he might not like me:

1. We run out of things to talk about sometimes. I'm not sure if it's because we're both too nervous though

2. Has referred to me as his friend a couple times. Of course we're not officially dating or anything, so we technically are friends, but I guess this just made me... confused, somehow?

3. I think it's mostly my pessimistic side that makes me think that he might not see me that way, so it's all probably just me being too worrisome or something

What are your thoughts on this situation with my crush and me?

We've been messaging for a month now. We are just friends but I'm drawn to his personality and him being handsome is just a bonus. Anyways, we have been flirting. Every time I would talk about a guy he would be very short in replies. I told him that I had a crush on someone (which is him) and he told me "he's a lucky guy" I asked why and he said " any guy would be lucky to have your affection" and then he quickly added "I just referenced that from (forgot the website)". Then he was telling me that he likes talking to me, that I'm one of his favorite people to talk to online and most of the time he's online is because he's just talking to me. So am I right that I think he likes me?