You notice him doing similar things with other women.
Flirting with other people is a sure sign that he's just leading you on. You're nothing special to him, and he's just stringing you along, just like he's doing with several other women.
If you're talking to a guy who makes you question everything he is probably leading you on. He wants to find a balance between keeping you interested and keeping his distance so he doesn't have to take accountability for hurting you later on. If he's making you feel crazy it's because he's trying to do that.
A guy who is taking it slow will make plans ahead of time, but someone stringing you along is not making you a priority. He will reach out to see if you want to grab a drink or come over the night of because he was waiting to see if something better would come up.
He may have detected that you're interested in more than just hooking up, and he's trying to back away slowly. His sudden lack of interest could signal he wants to end things, or that he wants to keep you at a distance. Either way, if he's not interested in more than sex, and you are, it's probably not a good match.
Not every guy is the same, but, typically, when he says he wants to take it slow, it “indicates a desire for the pace in which intimacy, connection, feelings, and commitments grow in a relationship to be one that feels comfortable," according to Thomas Edwards Jr., founder of The Professional Wingman.
Determining whether a guy likes you can occasionally be challenging due to how differently they react to feelings, sometimes awkwardly. If someone pays attention, compliments, makes an effort, and spends time with you, those are some of the frequent indications to watch for to figure out if the guy likes you.
If someone smiles a lot when they look at you and connects eye contact with smiling, it is usually because they find you attractive. They might also make fun of you and tease you, or try to make you laugh. If someone's into you, you make them nervous. Their heart will beat rapidly from being around you.
Can you feel when someone is attracted to you? Yes. When someone feels you are an attractive person, some things come up between you that aren't there otherwise. The clues aren't always obvious, but you can see some of them by paying attention.
Men who are interested in you will likely face directly toward you during conversation. Even if you're with a group, he might turn his whole torso to face you. Watch to see if he's trying to “close you off” and keep you to himself.
Certain body language, like licking his lips, moving his legs closer to you, asking about other men in your life, and raising his eyebrows while you talk, can clue you in about someone secretly liking you.
If a guy's into you, you'll make him nervous. He'll get goose bumps or a rapidly beating heart just from being around you. Look for signs like unexplained laughter, sweaty palms and fidgeting. Guys always want to be in control of their emotions—we like to be in charge.
Smiles and sparks
You will often witness a spark in their eyes when they are looking at you or having a conversation with you. They will smile at you as if you are art personified. You can tell if someone likes you if you can sense them looking at you even when you are pretending not to notice.
1 He makes eye contact with you. 2 He smiles when he sees you. 3 He checks you out when you're not looking. 4 He leans in when you talk.
Physical, emotional, or mental abuse
Physical, emotional, and mental abuse are undeniable red flags in any relationship. Physical abuse is easier to pick up. But emotional and mental abuse can be just as damaging in the long run. And just like physical abuse, mental and emotional abuse can cause PTSD.
Call him up or better yet speak to him in person and let him know upfront that you're a bit hesitant about rushing into sex because of a recent relationship. He doesn't need to know the details about what happened, but just saying, "I want to take it slow" without any context is obviously not working.
Guys mainly act distant when they are uncertain of their feelings or yours. Please don't give up when you notice a sudden change in his demeanor. Instead, make him trust you more by assuring him of your love. Let him know you value the relationship and hope you build it together.