u/CommonGrace0316

He calls me his friend yet we don’t do anything together “out”. I see him about three times a week, we talk on the phone, we text, he has asked for my picture (twice) ,

He has said he loves me to death “adding I really mean it”. Complements me on my abilities, my intelligence, my looks. He self deprecates to me, but has also shared very private bits of his life such as finances, health issues, family history. He is protective.

FWIW, he has a very small social circle, a few family members and two or three other guys he mentions and he has told about me.

he said the pic requests where to show them a pic of his friend yet said he would delete if I didn’t want that, but hoped he could keep them for himself.

I do adore him, I respect him and his boundaries and fear if I say something it will ruin a good if limited friendship.

Fellas, what are your thoughts that might explain his behavior? Shy? Guarded? Afraid I’ll reject him? Or am I likely just a friend to him?

He calls me his friend but we don’t do anything together “out” but we talk, we text, he has asked for my picture (twice) , has said he loves me to death “and I really mean it”. Complements me on my abilities, my intelligence, my looks, self deprecates, share very private bits of his life like finances, health issues, family…

… he has a very small social circle, a few family members and two or three other guys he mentions and he has told about me… who know about me, he said the pic requests where to show them a pic of his friend.

I adore him.

Thoughts? Shy? Guarded? Or am I really just his friend to him?

We are both older singles. I believe him to be a good and decent man. We talk and he has shared many things about himself that I would consider private and personal. So I don’t think this is something casual.

He has mentioned some conversations he’s had where he has told his friends and family about me in some way.

He recently took a picture of me telling me that he wanted to send it to his family and then when he realized that he should’ve asked me first he said he would delete it but at the very least he would hope I would let him keep it for himself. A few weeks later, he asked me for a picture where I was smiling. I’m struggling to understand if this is normal behavior for men or if this is an indication that he is looking at this as more than a friendship.

Your insight would be valuable to me thank you.