Someone tell me this means nothing

[EveryRainbow]

I’m being ridiculous and over thinking an emoji

Ex bf and I have mutual friends, I didn’t want either of us to have to lose any of these friends. We’ve been split up for a few months now so I sent him a text saying if he felt ok about it could we try being friends again ( we were friends for a while before we started dating).

He replied with I’d really like that 😊 so I’m overthinking that he didn’t use a normal smiley face or a grin. I’ve always taken that one to mean more than just being happy? And if it’s not already completely obvious I’d love nothing more than to be with him again so knock some sense into me before I do something stupid please

Why haven’t you called him to ask him to get back with you?

It does depend how and why you split up though.

You could always reply with "Great! Let's do drinks soon".

(no smiley face, no kiss - just to be on the safe side.)

Wait and see what/if he replies. If he's keen he will probably say something, even to acknowledge it back.

If nothing happens you can follow it up sometime. In a casual, "friends" capacity obviously .

I wouldn't rush in professing undying love etc... but TBH nor would I rule anything out. You never know. It does depend how and why you split up though, as I said. There are some ex's or situations you should really never step foot back in again just because in your heart you know you can't work through the issues/change them/be happy and so you are wasting your time and breaking your own heart to pursue it again. There are couples who go on and on and on, totally unsuited long term and with no real long-term prospects, but neither of them has the willpower or the will to break it off properly. Or maybe they didn't meet anyone else in that time, but when you are still on/off with someone, it's harder to meet anyone else significant.

I personally use that smiley as an "I'd really like to tell you to fuck off, but I have to be nice" thing ha ha (as in, it's what I used when I feel I'm being falsely nice.. I can't explain it) so you will never know what he meant by it, as they mean different things to different people.

If that emoji means more than just a smiley face, then I’ve given a lot of people the wrong idea over the years

I use smiley faces instead of kisses in messages to people I don’t want to put kisses to because I can’t just end a message without something there... and a full stop looks too blunt.
If you want him back... tell him. I say sod it, tell him you want him back... worst he can do is say no and then you’ll know and can move on properly. Always regret the things you don’t do!

Another one who’s been there too.
On both sides.
I’ve been the ex who desperately wanted to get back together and pretended, even to myself at times, that I didn’t and I was cool with it, and thus we could be cool with it, and could be friends a chat.

In the end it results in sex, prolonged agony, a half hearted ‘attempt’ (on his part) at getting back together and trying again. Then another breakup and more heartbreak because the reason we broke up, so still a reason to be broken up.

I’ve also been at the receiving end of the over interpretation of the meaning of emojis, which resulted in a very good friend confessing his feelings for me (and ultimately in the long run ruining the friendship), because he interpreted the emoji to be a flirty/shy/coy smile (which completely changed the context of what I was saying), from a smiley face that I simply used to use because I think it’s a nicer looking smiley face

*is still a reason to be broken up

Only mad and bad things come of it when you start analysing the hidden meaning of emojis.

Do your nails, watch a film, make a shopping wish list, tidy a drawer...Anything to distract yourself!

Do not text during the hours of darkness, either.

Omg OP sorry but you’re really overthinking it. That’s just the most friendly emoji so people often use it when they’re trying to appear as friendly as possible ime. I’d have used it too, but yeah, to look friendly and keen to be friends. People don’t use very subtle emojis if they want to get back together, they’d just say or be more obvious about it. Sorry OP

Also I really don’t think you’re ready to be friends by the sound of it.. that would be entering risky ‘I’m going to embarrass myself’ territory. I don’t know what your mutual friends are like but do you go for drinks? As alcohol and a faux-friendship with someone you’re desperate to get back with are an awful combination - I predict drunk tears or drunk declarations of love. Are you more dinner party or activity type people? What if he brought along a new date to one of these events? Would you be able to handle it? You’re really not ready to be friends and if you’re being honest with yourself, do you even want to be his purely platonic pal or are you using this as an excuse to spend time with him? If it’s the latter then I think you need to reconsider being friends until you’re properly over him or risk doing a few things that you’re going to be embarrassed about in the future!

@Mooncupblues you’re totally right.

Thanks everyone for talking sense to me, I was overthinking because he used to use that one when he sent more flirty messages or was telling me how he felt so I’ve read too much into it. He’s probably just relieved I’m “over it” and want to be friends.

@painauchocolat84 I don’t drink so there’s no chance of drunk declarations

Happy to say I didn’t text him back so didn’t end up embarrassing myself. We already had a few nights out booked with friends for birthdays/around Christmas and didn’t want friends to feel like they had to choose or either of us to miss out so I’ll see how things so for now and if I find it hard I’ll back out.