Search Results: he thinks i deserve better

So basically I’ve known this guy for years, we went to middle school, high school and college together but were never very close. Afterwards we went our separate ways but reconnected online not too long ago and I gave him my number when he asked for it. He’s single, I’m single, so why not? At first, there were talks of us going to grab lunch or dinner together. I had to go on an extended trip so that got postponed quite a bit and we just never wound up meeting. He seems extra busy these days with work and projects, but just never makes the time to be with me. So it’s been 2 months of us just talking. 😪
He texts everyday and the conversations are interesting and filled with him saying sweet things at times, lots of inside jokes, and some innuendos. I know that he has been going through some tough times with work and within his friends/family that stress him out. He has told me everything about him, the good, the bad, his fears & emotions. This guy has even said how he is so thankful for our talks, and that I have been the best thing to come into his life in a long time. He even gets jealous when I talk about other guys which I wouldn’t think is something strictly platonic friends cared about.

So what gives? Is that all just talk? Could he be too depressed to date? I get that he may be busy every so often, and that he also gets these negative feelings that get him down at times, but it’s like now he’s content with us just getting to know each other through texting. 😕 I don’t know if he is just wanting to get to know me better (he asks me A LOT about myself) or if he doesn’t feel like he deserves me if he is depressed?
I’m fine with being just friends if that’s all that this is going to be, but even just friends catch up in person and hang out every so often.
I don’t initiate texts with him and only respond to a few of them hoping he will either step up or move on but I’m not sure if that is helping anything.

What would you do if you were in my shoes?

They got engaged in like three weeks and lasted a couple months before they broke it off. I really thought they’d last. Stupid Ariana, Pete deserves better. Did you think they’d last? Or nah?

1) Maybe you’re pushing her away because you’re scared of how you feel.
2) Maybe you don’t want to hurt her and you think you always will.
3) Maybe you think she would be happier with someone a little less like you.
4) Maybe this has nothing to do with your feelings for her and everything to do with the feelings you have towards yourself.
5) Maybe it’s not that you think she deserves better, it’s that you think you deserve worse.
6) Maybe you don’t think you’re worthy of a good girl like her.
7) Maybe you couldn’t be any surer about her, but can’t help but feel so unsure about yourself.
8) Maybe somewhere along the line, you convinced yourself that you aren’t worthy of happiness or love."