I can't tell if this guy at work likes me. He's made occasional flirty comments in the past but in his general manner he's quite serious. He's slightly older than me. He's also in a more senior position. I have always considered him as a work friend, he's given me some good advice in the past and he's very straight-forward in his approach. I've known him for a few years.
He can be blunt in his manner and quite a few people in the office find him cold and standoffish and I must say, he doesn't naturally invite conversation. But he's very odd with me sometimes. If I'm hot-desking elsewhere, he'll text me saying the Team is missing me, and asks me where I am. He makes jokes, but then straightens the conversation up by reprimanding me over something minor. He has said I've "got the looks," and comments like that. And he seems to approve if I sit near him.
He's just a bit odd in his approach. I can't actually work out if he's interested or not? We are friends, and we can have a laugh. I've recently noticed that he mirrors things I say. And he has held my hand once when I cried at work! Maybe he was just being nice. I really can't work him out. He does like to tell me off though! It's very strange. Any thoughts?