I'm confused

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-18-2007
I'm confused
4
Mon, 06-18-2007 - 11:27pm

I'm 30 and my husband passed away 7 months ago. Around that time, when I went back to work, this new guy started in my department. He's very nice and cool to hang with, and very funny at work. About 3 months ago, I started to get the feeling that he was into me. I think he's very attractive, but I didn't want to encourage anything since I was grieving. I'd catch him looking at me, and he would wink and smile at me (we sat diagonally from each other).

I really am ok since my husband's passing, i've put my life back on track. I started to catch myself checking out the new guy as well, and going out with him to pick up lunch for the department and stuff...
Fast forward to 2 weeks ago, when I was suddenly laid off from work. He emailed me at home, and we started IM'ing a lot. I started looking forward to his IMs. Last weekend, we started a chat session that turned very private and steamy. He basically said how he thought i was hot, and he'd been checking me out at work, and things went kinda steamy from there--we almost had cybersex. That same night, he invited me to his house where he and his roommates were having a few friends over for a get-together. I kinda knew what i was getting into when I agreed to show up.

He introduced me to all his friends (most of whom he's known since high school), and we all had a blast. He gave me a tour of the house and surprised me with a very tender kiss in the basement. Late into the night, when it was just he and I, things naturally moved into his bedroom, and let's just say that we had an AMAZING time.
He texted me the next day letting me know how much he had a good time, and we also IM'ed again the rest of the weekend. A couple of days later I went over to his house again, where we watched TV and then went to his bedroom... That night was even more amazing than the first, even though he was kinda tired.

My dilemma is, I don't know if he's just using me for sex, or if he genuinely likes me. We haven't really had that kind of conversation. My gut feeling tells me that he truly likes me, but i can't be sure.
This past week, I went to his ball game playoffs where I hung out in the bleachers with his 10 year old nephew and his roomies. Afterwards, we all went back to his house, and he his nephew and I watched a movie. His nephew left after the movie and I left a little later. He was very tired, so we only watched tv and then I went home.
This weekend, i went to his house where we again watched a movie, and then we went to one of his friend's birthday get-together. He told me there that his nephew really liked me, and his friends like me too. They've been asking him questions about me and stuff. We hung out with his friends, and all had dinner together. He even occasionally put his arm around me in front of his friends there, as he did also when we got back to his house. He was very tired that night, so i let him go to bed and went home. Again, he kissed me very tenderly in the street, and said he owes me a rain check big time.

I try not to text him too much or call him during the day, since he's at work, and I know he has a lot of other activities with his friends during the week. Do you think he genuinely likes me? Or could he just be using me for a while? I keep telling myself that i'll just enjoy this while it lasts, but i'm afraid my emotions will eventually get involved. What should I do?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-18-2007
Tue, 06-19-2007 - 12:04am
Well, he's treating you like a "regular" date/girlfriend (though I think many don't really use the word boy/girlfriend if the relationship is only 2 wks old), not a Friends With Benefits. You guys are going out in social situations, he's publicly affectionate (arm around you), you're meeting friends/family. Sounds like "regular" dating. Now, is he SERIOUS about you? Does he see you as potential future wife or something? This is probably WAY too early for either of you to know. The relationship has to build and see where it goes. Gradually deepen. Be yourself, but don't rush into things. See how it goes, over the next 2-3 months things should either get a more serious, or you'll detect a pattern of emotional distance and him wanting to keep it light. But so far, all indications are that he's serious about trying to build a real relationship with you. You don't bring your "plaything" to meet family. Treat it like a real relationship that is VERY young and SLOWLY building and see how it unfolds. This sounds like an appropriate relationship for emotional involvement to happen and slowly deepen (assuming it keeps working out). And even if both of you right now see potential long term for you 2, that doesn't mean it will work out, but even if it doesn't, you can enjoy the time of discovery, and come away having learned things about yourself, relationships, and men in that time. Keep dating him, keep trying to build a real relationship, and see how it goes.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-30-2006
Tue, 06-19-2007 - 2:21am

First, my condolences for your loss. Second, no one knows what his intentions are, but him. However, since you have been in serious relationships before you can compare his actions and gestures to the previous men in your life to see if anything feels familiar. I can understand that you are concerned about your emotions getting involved. If at that time you feel the need to discuss the issue then do so. If you ask him what he's into (casual vs. exclusive) he'll probably tell you what is going on in his head. If you feel you are beginning to feel and he says he doesn't want exclusivity, then you can always break up with him.

The question really is: what do YOU want? Do you want an exclusive relationship at all at this time in your life? If so, does he fit the bill? Or, if you are into getting your dating feet wet with something more low key, then this guy might be a nice way to get out there again. Everyone focuses on whether the guy likes them instead of asking themselves...where does this guy fit into my life?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-18-2007
Mon, 07-02-2007 - 12:44am
Thanks, jayd2 for your reply. I never got the chance to thank you earlier, but i was comforted by your response.
I'm still seeing the guy in question. I'm still confused at times, but ok at others. I'm quite sure that he definitely feels a lot for me. It's in his actions and words. He confided to a coworker (from where i also used to work, so I know her) that he's being seeing me. I had told another mutual coworker, and she said she was going to mess with his mind (jokingly) until he told her himself. She did so, and at first he told her he's "working on someone right now", and after some more talking and joking he told her he "doesn't want to mess up anything with that person he's with". He eventually did tell her it's me.
I've been to his house a few times now and am familiar with his 2 roommates/best friends. We've all gone to the pool, and lunch together. He even kissed me in public at his ball game, which I thought was very sweet.
He does text me a lot (he's big on texting), but most of the time he doesn't call when he says he will, and I don't like to call guys too much.
As we IM'ed briefly tonight, he apologized to me for being distant lately. I asked him if he wanted to talk, but he said he's not a big talker (neither am i, BTW). He said he just goes through these phases, and he usually writes or goes out for a drive to clear his mind.
Until we find the time to talk one day, i have to keep wondering if maybe he has doubts about me, about us? Again, i feel it in my gut that he truly likes me. He knows I'm a widow; he started work the same week that I resumed work myself, but I he had seen pictures of my late husband, and i explained to him what had happened. He's very sweet to me, very tender. He knows i'm going through some crap with my in-laws that's bringing me down.
Have i mentioned that i'm black, and he's white? Not that it matters. But he's never dated and African-American before, and neither have I ever dated a white guy before. Perhaps he has doubts about that?
Maybe i'm overreacting, and overthinking this situation. I mean, it has only been 3 weeks. I'm just trying to understand some of his actions, his moods...
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-21-2003
Mon, 07-02-2007 - 12:54am
You're both people who hang out and have sex. Most of the hang outs occur in his home and from time to time you both go into his bedroom and have sex. Nothing is verbal, the rules that is; you go and he goes. There is no obligation to each other or anything of that nature. He doesn't have to call you to tell you he's going out OR you have to do the same. He can date others and so can you. You enjoy it and he enjoys it. In my view, you're in a FWB kind of deal. He wants to hang out and have sex and you enjoy it and like it too. That's all to it. You're neither dating nor you are a couple.