Search Results: I was pretty certain he liked me but he said

Last year his best friend (lets call him John) started talking quite often, and we became great friends, resulting with me also getting closer with the guy (he can be Michael) this post is mainly about. After a while, I started developing strong feelings for John, and somehow he suspected it (the entire grade did), getting me to admit it. All he said was "Oh, okay.", and everything went back to normal.
Michael soon figured this out and was also pretty cool with it. I was crazy about John, although I didn't show it. Suddenly, he stopped talking to and basically ignored me. On the other hand, Michael was getting closer to me, and I was almost certain he had feelings for me. He would leave his friends to be with me, was nice to me, laughed at my jokes, etc. I started liking him as well, resulting in a sort of 'love-triangle', as I was still recovering from John, who would tease us about 'being in love'. Rather immature. Somehow the three of us were talking during break, and I said I might 'get my hair cut short', with John saying "You would look like an ugly bitch if you did that.". I was pretty upset but jokingly said "I know!". Later on, I asked Michael for advice, mentioning John's earlier comment. Michael said (shyly, maybe blushing a little) "Well, maybe he said that because he thinks you are pretty now."
Soon, Michael and I also grew apart, (he still teased me and yes it did hurt although I never showed it and just laughed). School has now started again; Michael sits pretty close to me and is now on crutches, so he would constantly be asking me to help him with it (very politely, along with a few jokes in between). One day, some kid decided to play scrabble during break, and I and a few others (including Michael) gathered around him. I stepped away after realising only four people could play. Michael said "Wait guys, Jane could play too. Come on.". He declared that I was going first and also teased and laughed with me. We stood beside each other pretty close, so he was looking into my eyes and grinning while we conversed. Afterwards he spent ages mimicking my laugh and annoying me (we were in a group).

What do you think?

I am casually seeing this guy and I'm afraid of getting hurt so as much as I wish I didn't I've put up a little wall. Everytime I start even thinking that he may really care about me, I find excuses or think about how it may be a way just to get me to stick around and put out. He's been patient though, he'll ask me certain things but he never tries to force stuff out of me. The other night we were pretty drunk and he was rambling about how much he has been wanting to sleep with me lately and he has a crazy imagination when he was drunk so it was a little hard to follow, but during one of the rambles he referred to me as the woman I love and it kind of caught me aback. There was a moment of silence when I think he had realized what he said and was seeing if I would react and I just kind or transitioned into another joke and tried to act like I didn't even hear it. But honestly after he said it, it was the only part of the conversation I could really remember. I just keep telling myself that it was a slip of words and that it wasn't intended, but I'm not sure if thats the truth or just me trying to avoid getting deeper. How often would you say drunk people use words like that if they don't actually feel that way?