Search Results: facebook friend requests

I only met him a month ago, and have spoken with this guy just three times.
He and my sister were school friends.
He’s 33 and I’m 31.
I’ve met him through church, which is where we have spoken each time.
One of the times that we spoke, we spoke for about half an hour, which seemed a considerable amount of time.
He seems to emphasise “how lovely” it is to talk to me. And keeps telling me what church service he will be at the following week, despite the fact that I haven’t even asked him.
When talking, he asks me a lot about myself too, but sometimes before I’ve even answered, he’ll ask me a different question... so off hand, he comes across as nervous during conversations.
He then says how nice it is to see me, despite the fact that we’ve only just recently met. He really seems to emphasise how nice it is to see me, quite often during conversations.
Then today, he sent me a friend request. When I saw it, I naturally became a little hopeful, that maybe he’s interested, because it’s not like we’ve known each other for that long.
So I accepted it, and sent a short message, just thanking him for the request and wishing him a good week.
Then he replied, and called me “mate”!!
Then asked if I could add him to my sister and brother inLaw on Facebook.
I told him that they’re not on there.
Then he said that was fine, and called me “champ”!!
If that isn’t friend-zoning, I don’t know what is...
I just don’t understand men at all.

So what do you think? Did he friend zone me?
Or am I just reading too much into it?

I have actually started to like him, he’s really easy to talk to, and sweet, in a genuine way.

So what do you suggest I do? Just drop it, as he clearly sees me as a friend only?

P. s. I live in Australia, so the term mate is used quite often, but much more among men, rather than women.