Am I misinterpreting texts from my coworker?

[DearSwan]

this isn’t about a romantic relationship I just didn’t know what topic to put it under!

so my coworker who is older than me and married with kids, has recently started adding kisses and 🥰 emojis in our WhatsApp messages (for reference we whatsapp only about work projects as we’re in different departments and he doesn’t use email, we don’t WhatsApp about our personal lives etc).

I’ve worked with him for 3 years but only in the last couple of weeks he’s started doing this. In person he acts totally normal, no different to how he was before, he’s a really nice guy, never made any inappropriate comments etc. At first I wondered if these additions to his messages were some sort of attempt at being flirty? But then I was in his office the other day and he mentioned his wife which to me is a very “I’m taken and I’m making you aware of that” thing, like if he was trying to flirt with me on text wouldn’t your wife be the last thing you’d bring up in any convo?

im just a bit confused as to where this new WhatsApp vibe has come from and I can’t tell if he’s just being overly friendly or if he’s trying to be flirtatious and it’s too awkward to ask him obviously. I know I definitely don’t send my coworkers 🥰 emojis and kisses. Am I overthinking this?

My friends has just started adding emojis to WhatsApp messages. They are largely inappropriate and he has no idea

He really thinks they're cute

Just recieved one now . A black man high fiving... hes a white middle aged man

I don't think your colleague is meaning anything by them

@Maddy70 that made me laugh - I can imagine my mum finding that emoji (need someone waving, quick look down the face emojis, ah ideal!).

Im going to have to tell him. But its amusing me ;)

I’m a bit puzzled by your take on his age being relevant — do you think that hormonal changes in middle age change our attitudes to emojis or something? Or remove our (possible) interest in shagging colleagues?

I wouldn’t think twice about his use of emojis, other than finding it mildly irritating and probably replying with ‘Why the kisses, Nigel? I sent you a document, I didn’t propose…’

And I think you’re overthinking his mention of his wife. Why wouldn’t he happen to mention her occasionally to a colleague?

He is testing you.

Update:

thanks all for your input! I decided to take your advice and go ahead and ask him. Thankfully we’re pretty good pals so it wasn’t awkward… we were chatting about summer hols and I said “oh I was meaning to ask, what’s that hearts-face emoji about?” And he went “what do you mean?” And I said “well I wasn’t sure in what way you meant it” and he said “oh god does it imply something?? Sorry I’m an old man I use emojis all the time I didn’t realise, my kids make fun of me for using them so maybe I should stop” and we laughed. So that’s it cleared up! He just thought it was a friendly emoji by the looks of it. I guess I was reading too much into it after all.

Just showed this to my 60 year husband and he assumed it was a happy face. I reckon he's being a plum not a creep but send him 🍆 and see what happens 😂

I use that emoji to say I’m really pleased… 😬

He sounds like me. I just scroll down til I find an emoji that seems to fit my message. I have no idea what it actually means. I'm probably sending all sorts!

The guys I work with send me all kinds of emojis (including hearts) but never kisses like x. Especially when I approve their annual leave or get them out of some kind of fix. It means absolutely zilch other than appreciation in my case

Haha same

Honestly, such a fuss about nothing. Even if he is open to flirting, just ignore it you're not interested. Don't use any emojis in return. No need to confront anyone and burn bridges because of emojis.

Glad it's all resolved satisfactorily 🥰