You made it. You successfully battled through the limbo between friends and potentially something more. You survived the awkward, “Does he like me, or is it just my imagination?” phase. And you’re 97 percent sure that he is seriously digging you, but you can’t tell if he’s ready to take things to the next level and commit to you exclusively. Well, if he is showing any of the following signs, he may be ready to seal the deal and be your boyfriend.
1. He texts you on the reg
Men can be much simpler to decipher than women. Guys don’t waste time on things that are unimportant to them, especially when it comes to texting. Unlike collegiettes who sometimes feel the need to give everyone the time of day, guys don’t put in any more energy than is necessary.
When Brad, a junior at Emory University, wanted to show his now-girlfriend, Caitlin, that he was interested in being with her exclusively, he texted her like he was already in a relationship with her.
“I would text her each morning with a simple, ‘Good morning!’ and then again around dinner and once more before going to bed,” Brad says. “I just wanted her to know that I was thinking about her throughout the day.”
He certainly doesn’t text his friends, “Good morning, beautiful!” or, “I hope you have a good day! Good luck on your history exam!” When he remembers the little details, not only was he thinking about you, but he also genuinely wants you to be happy. By taking the time out to shoot you a quick text, he’s showing you that it’s no trouble at all for him to pause between rounds of Mario Kart to bring a smile to your face. And that’s a big deal.
2. He remembers the little things
He often can’t remember what he ate for dinner last night or even to feed his betta fish before leaving the house each morning, so that makes the fact that he remembered your favorite flavor of frozen yogurt that much more special. And he even added chocolate chips and gummy bears, just the way you like it!
Jasmine, a sophomore at Missouri State University, knew her now-boyfriend was going to stick around once he surprised her with a night full of her favorite things.
“It was perfect,” she says. “He picked me up and took me roller-skating, something I’d said I always wanted to do but had never actually done. And then he bought me my favorite ice cream and took me to where we had our first date. That’s where he asked me to be his girlfriend.”
Because you’re important to him, the little things about you are important to him as well. Your favorite ice cream flavor, the way you like lemon with your water at restaurants and even landmarks where you shared some cool moments together are stored in a special place in his mind. It’s the knowledge he taps into whenever he wants to seem irresistibly thoughtful and cute, and it works every time. Remembering the little things is what sets him apart from the rest.
3. He shows how he feels through body language
Unlike the creep from the bar last night who was too close for comfort, your hunk knows just want to get a little closer to you. His body language says it all. At a crowded party, he slides closer to you almost unperceptively and whispers that you look beautiful. He pulls you into him, welcoming you to lean on his chest while you’re watching a movie. And he puts a little extra oomph into that goodnight kiss, upping the ante every time and making each kiss better than the last.
Sophia knew her boyfriend wanted to be something more because “he was such a cuddler.” She says, “It was unlike anything I’d ever experienced with a guy before. We would be watching a movie and cuddling, of course. But then the movie would end and the cuddling wouldn’t. We could just lay like that and talk for hours without doing anything else.”
Actions speak louder than words. And often, so does body language. If he’s consistently the one to initiate holding hands or even cuddling on the couch, he likes you. Guys don’t show their lovey-dovey side to just anybody.
4. He slips compliments into typical conversation
Guys don’t usually associate themselves with the word “feelings.” So when they say something that hints at their feelings for you, it’s important.
His feelings could be conveyed in a fleeting compliment as simple as, “You smell nice.” But when you translate that, he’s actually saying, “I like you. Let’s do this thing.”
When he wanted to ask his current girlfriend to go out with him, Derrick, a sophomore at the University of Chicago, wasn’t quite sure how to go about it at first. “I did the only thing I could think of at the time: I would just tell Caroline [his girlfriend] what I liked about her, and it worked,” he says.
Those compliments that you brush off without a second thought? Give them that second thought! He worked up to the courage to compliment the way the sun makes your hair a little more golden and your eyes a little brighter. Take it to heart. He means it and wants you to know he notices the little things that make you sparkle in his eyes.
5. He does things he wouldn’t normally do
He’ll learn to love Bravo and memorize all the shows on that channel. That’s what Abby, a junior at Loyola University Chicago, says her boyfriend did. “I knew he really liked me when he would come over and watch Real Housewives with me,” she says. “And eventually, even though I already knew it was coming, he just came right out and told me how he felt. He was pretty clear about his feelings for me, whether or not he knew it at the time.”
Even if he may think he’s being stealthy about his slick moves to win you over, you know what he’s up to. He’s not walking 20 minutes across campus to study with his friends. He’s not helping his friends move in a million boxes to their new apartments. He’s different with you, and he wants you to realize that he’s different with you.
Whether he’s texting you cute “Good morning!” texts or simply complimenting how particularly nice you look today, he’s showing that he’s into you. And not only that, but he wants to continue letting you know how much he likes you—but in a more committed relationship. He likes it, and he’s going to put a [label] on it.