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Relationships

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Possible relationship or just friends?

7 replies

Pixiedustlust · 28/09/2025 10:28

Okay, so this is gonna be a bit of a long post so I do apologise. But please bear with me. I am quite confused and need some help/advice.
I have a male friend that I worked with about 20 years ago. He is 49 and I'm 41. We hadn't seen each other since working together and bumped into each other again 3 years ago. We weren't hanging out after that, we'd just see each other in the street and say hi, how are you?
5 weeks ago we saw each other while I was getting a drink to relax with on the Friday night. I asked him if he fancied coming to mine for a drink and we had a great catch up but I thought that would be it until I'd see him in passing.
To my surprise for the last 4 weeks we have seen each other quite a lot. He comes round and we watch films and relax, but I sit on the sofa and he sits on the chair.
We talk A LOT, about when we worked together, about our younger years growing up and about my son and his children. We've spoken about going for food or a drink but haven't got around to it yet.
I would say that I cook fairly easy meals. When I told him this after he asked me, he said he will come round and show me how to cook a creative meal, but he will show me what to do while I do the cooking! I absolutely love the idea of him talking me through how to cook it instead of just cooking it for me. It'll be something nice to do together.
We text almost every day, even if it's just once a day.
What got me thinking the most was when he asked me the other day what I was doing for Christmas!! I said I'd be seeing my son for a few hours and then relaxing with cheesy movies and junk food. He asked if it would be okay to come round after my son had been. He usually goes to his mom's for Christmas, but she will be back home with family in Jamaica. Of course I said yes to him coming around!
I can't really work out whether he is interested in me in a romantic kind of way or whether he is just a good friend.
I don't pick up on any signs like flirting. We always sit separately when he comes over. There is zero physical contact between us. We have hugged once in 5 weeks, but that's it.
As we have spoken a lot over the last few weeks and he has told me that he doesn't just jump into bed with someone, it has to mean something. But I am exactly the same. Could it be that he wants to get to know me better on an emotional level before starting to be intimate, or it's it because he only wants to be friends?
You might be wondering why I'm even asking this question if there are hardly signs that he is interested in starting to date. But I would just like to know what you think.
One reason that I don't think he's interested in me in a romantic kind of way is because he calls me mate nearly all of the time. He only ever calls me babe when we're texting.
I might sound silly asking
you if he sees me more than just a friend, but I genuinely don't know. I haven't been in a relationship for over 3 years and I haven't been sexually active
for 2 and a half years, so I'm not great at picking up the signs.
I hope someone can help me with this situation and give me any advice.

Thank you xxx 💖

OP posts:
Newname25 · 28/09/2025 10:38

Hard to know. You could always ask him if hes seeing someone at the moment or does he have bis eye on anyone. See how he responds. That way you aren't putting yourself out there but you'll get an inkling

Tenofcups · 28/09/2025 10:43

I think if you have to ask the question are they interested in romance the answer is no. But he seems like a good friend, so I’d just continue for now if you are happy with the arrangement and see if anything develops.

Pixiedustlust · 28/09/2025 10:50

Hiya, thank you for your reply!
I'm almost certain that he isn't seeing anyone right now. He hasn't spoken once about a partner or that he's even seeing anyone.
If I thought for one minute that he was I would have found it extremely uncomfortable with the amount of time we've been spending together and I would have told him it's not appropriate.
I also wouldn't be interested in him whatsoever if he was seeing someone.
I understand that men can female friends and vice versa, but he has been coming around a lot.
I would like to know if he is looking to start dating but I am so hesitant to ask him 😕

OP posts:
inkognitha · 28/09/2025 10:52

Talk to him, simply ask him, tell him you like him but you don’t exactly know where you fit in his life, total friendship zone or getting to know zone. See how he reacts.

Whatever happens, don’t fall into a situationship that will mess you around, he’s either a mate or an official bf (who should take you out and court you btw), nothing in between, emotionally or physically, don’t overgive, have clear boundaries and stick to it.

Newname25 · 28/09/2025 10:55

Pixiedustlust · 28/09/2025 10:50

Hiya, thank you for your reply!
I'm almost certain that he isn't seeing anyone right now. He hasn't spoken once about a partner or that he's even seeing anyone.
If I thought for one minute that he was I would have found it extremely uncomfortable with the amount of time we've been spending together and I would have told him it's not appropriate.
I also wouldn't be interested in him whatsoever if he was seeing someone.
I understand that men can female friends and vice versa, but he has been coming around a lot.
I would like to know if he is looking to start dating but I am so hesitant to ask him 😕

Yes but you can bring it up casually if you are afraid of being rejected. It can be another topic of conversation. What would like in your next partner etc etc. Finding out info workout being direct

ForTipsyFinch · 28/09/2025 11:16

Ultimately, if he were interested in more I think you would know. I‘m fairly cynical though and my view is always - men regularly shoot their shot with women they don’t have a chance with, I just don’t think they wouldn’t not if it was someone they’re actually spending time with, if their was any hint of it happening.

that said, I don’t think a conversation about it would be the worst thing if that is what you want.

Endofyear · 28/09/2025 22:11

I think if you want clarity, you are going to have to ask him. Tell him you're enjoying his company but you need to know if he wants friendship or something more? It doesn't have to be awkward - if you have feelings for him beyond friendship, you can spend weeks and months wondering and trying to interpret every gesture or text or you can just ask him. I know what I would choose.

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