Hi, I am pretty sure I'm not entirely welcome here, but I figured it was worth a shot to actually ask you guys because it finally happened to me.

I read the posts on /r/theredpill every once in a while, and I can't say I disagree with any of your collective logic. Women are cruel and I feel for many of you who have been on the shit end of our treatment, if I could apologize on behalf of all of us, I would. That said, I have a particular coworker who has always been extremely nice to me and offers me a ride home once in a while (I bike to work, but sometimes take a cab when feeling lazy or late, on those days he always offers--sometimes I take him up, sometimes I don't). Other than those rides home, we have never talked or hung out outside of work, but I really enjoy the little interaction with him at work. He's funny, and we like the same TV shows and video games, which tend to be the subject of most of our conversations.

Last week, during a ride home, he asked me if I would like to go out to dinner with him, on a date. I was kind of surprised that he asked and bumbled my way around telling him that I'm not very attracted to him and that while I would enjoy hanging out outside of work more, it wouldn't be romantic for me and I didn't want to lead him on. I really didn't want to hurt his feelings, but he laughed and took it really well.

The last couple days at work, he's been avoiding me, so yesterday I approached him and said "hey! I hope I wasn't a bitch the other day, I feel like you're mad at me but I miss talking to you." He responded with "What are you talking about? Of course I'm not mad, it's in your head". It felt weird, but he clearly didn't want to talk about it so I left. Last night at 11pm, I got a text from him that said: "Just so you know I don't get friendzoned. It's fine that you don't think I'm attractive, but don't ask me to drive you home anymore."

I have never asked him to drive me, not once, and I really hate that he's angry. It hit me that I might be one of the women that use and manipulate men without thinking twice about it, and it makes me feel disgusting inside to think that this whole time he felt that way. What could I have done differently, at any point?? Should I not have taken the offers to drive me home? Should I have just gone on the date with him? Is there a nicer way I could have told him I wasn't interested?