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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Friend or potentially more?

13 replies

40yearodteenager · 23/02/2020 16:20

Hi Mumsnet - first time posting here, but this seems to be the best forum for no bullshit answers. 😂 And as per my username, feeling like a teenager!

So I am in my early 40s, single and have known this guy (about 5 years older than me) for a year or two. He has been separated from his wife for at least a couple of years (she is shacked up with someone else) and currently going through the divorce formalities.

I know him as one of the bunch of people on my daily commute (we do work in the same building, but different departments and my work never crosses his). It always has been a group of people on the train, and I have always enjoyed his company (we laugh all the time) but recently our train timetable changed and now in the evening it is just myself and him.

And in the last few weeks, it has dawned on me that I am thinking of him more and more - in fact pretty much all the time now - but I have no clue what he thinks. Things that have happened for anyone into body language and the such....

We always have very focussed eye contact when we are talking
Touch each other on the arm / back occasionally.
He mirrors me, all the time. I read some online articles and obsessed now with looking at body language and testing it. Feet always pointing towards me even if he is talking to someone else.
We laugh, all the time. Even at the stupidest jokes.
We text a little here and there, albeit very innocently.
He buys me little things like tea, snacks for our train journey and most recently, something we were talking about when we were last talking on the train (we talk a lot about food!) and I had said I had never tried it.

My feelings have just intensified over the last week or so - i admitted it to my best friend, and it kind of made it more real so I can’t ignore it any more. On Thursday, the last time i saw him, he first of all said I looked flushed (d’oh!) and then asked me repeatedly if I was okay as I didn’t seem myself. I brushed it off. When I got home, i texted him with an answer to a question he had asked about where we work, and he asked again if I was okay. I just said I had an overwhelming day, plus hadn’t slept well the night before (oh he had already interrogated me about why that was as well, just said I had lots on my mind). Then he told me he had bought me this thing. We haven’t had any further contact this weekend.

So Mumsnet - what do you think? Am I overreacting? I am not brave enough to just ask him out - do you think there is something worth pursuing, and what are your sage words of advice?

The only advice I’ve had so far is from one of my friends. “Text him, and say “Thanks for the tea, fancy a shag?”” Grin

OP posts:
izzywizzygood · 23/02/2020 16:31

The tell tale might be in the fact he said you looked flushed on Thursday: if he had feelings for you and suspected you have feelings for him too, he would have known that your "flushing" was more romantic blushing and he would not have bought it up. Sounds like he was concerned about you as a co-worker/friend.

However, I would push the flirting to the next level and see how he responds just in case!! Good luck! He sounds fun!

40yearodteenager · 23/02/2020 16:37

@izzywizzygood Ha, thanks! And that is a good point, or he is just completely oblivious. Pretty sure he’s been out of the dating game since splitting from his wife. Just made me blush even more though Blush

OP posts:
izzywizzygood · 23/02/2020 16:57

Or maybe he was drawing attention to the blush on purpose! He sounds responsive and open, so up the flirting gently and I am sure you will find out soon! Especially as you see each other most days. :)

looop · 23/02/2020 18:57

Haha, love your friends advice! Grin

It sounds positive so far. I'd say maybe up the flirty banter a bit, and see what reaction you get?
It sounds like you're in that lovely exciting, infatuation stage, which is all good fun at the moment.! Just be careful with investing too much emotion at this stage. It sounds like you have a good friendship at least, and it would be a shame for that to go beyond the point of no return, of it turns out you have got your wires crossed.

Good luck!

40yearoldteenager · 23/02/2020 20:41

Thanks @looop - it actually helped writing it all down earlier, and I think I’ve calmed down a little. For now anyway - I won’t be seeing him till Tuesday Grin.

Right, up the flirting, without looking like a doofus. I will try!

StarlightLady · 24/02/2020 03:35

There are so many oeople where things don’t happen because they are wondering what the other one thinks. He buys you little things. He has the hots for you!

There must be something he knows about or a place where he has been, where you can say you would like to find out more? Suggest a coffee or a glass of wine after work. Put your cup/glass on the table immediately next to his.

Maybe pick a day when you have to to go for a light meal or a pizza afterwards?

Let us know how you get on.

Toomanygerbils · 24/02/2020 03:42

I wouldn’t go overboard but maybe just ask him for a drink after work one day, how he responds to that will tell:)

PhilCornwall1 · 24/02/2020 04:57

You are both single, you like him, so go for it. Life is short and too many people miss out on things by hesitating and questioning themselves.

Lweji · 24/02/2020 08:16

Tell him of something you'd like to do or see. Ask him if he'd like to go with you. You can mention drinks before or after.
It helps if it's something he's not that interested in.

40yearoldteenager · 24/02/2020 12:38

Thanks all, I appreciate the input Grin

40yearoldteenager · 25/02/2020 13:28

Well, I actually put my big girl pants on this morning. It came up that I am going to a sporting event in a couple of weeks, and I asked if he had ever been. He said he had always wanted to, so I said I had till Friday to book tickets, said with a quizzical look. He realised and said "Oh for me?!" and I said "Yes, if you would like to." He then said he didn't know what he was doing that weekend. I just said "No worries, I'm inviting my best mate as well" (for my own pride lol).

He went a bit weird after that. Will be interesting to see how he is on the journey home tonight. But that's it, ball is in his court now....

looop · 25/02/2020 20:50

Ooh interesting development!

Was he pleasantly surprised? Maybe he went a bit weird, after hearing you're inviting your friend too? (Though I get why you are!)

How was the journey home this evening?

40yearoldteenager · 25/02/2020 21:17

@looop Completely normal. Laughing, joking, talking about stuff he’d bought, and then chatting about available properties in the village I live in (they are currently trying to sell the marital home about 7 miles away from me). So yeah, small chance he could end up living just round the corner from me lol.

He already knew it was being arranged through friends at work, so didn’t think it was too unusual to say that I was inviting someone else Grin

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