I am in my early twenties and quite inexperienced with men. I have always felt a craving for a meaningful long relationship and I have been very much not interested in short term relationships or dating "just for fun". I know how to talk to men and how to behave around them, I just lack dating experience because for one reason or another I never got into a relationship with anyone.

However, I recently met a guy who I get along with surprisingly well. The chemistry is there. This hasn't happened in years and I almost feel like I am ready to open up my heart and take things further with him, but something is stopping me. The day after our first date he said I've been on his mind a lot and I didn't know what to reply to that. I half-ignored it. I realized I have no idea what to say. I thought about him more over the next few days and I realized that even though I seem to like him, I kind of like being apart. I don't feel the need to be around him all the time. I don't know if I'm supposed to text him when we go days without seeing each other. I know I won't be able to keep him if I'm like this, I will come off cold and unavailable. What guy likes that? The most I've done to show my feelings is saying yes to dates and being fun and happy when I see him. That's not much. I feel sad because it feels like something is wrong with me and I don't know what to do.

edit/ I forgot to mention that I have a history being distant around guys I like, which worries me. I always blamed it on a variety of reasons, but I have no excuse this time. I don't want to be like this.

I hope I'm making sense. I'm so confused and need help with my girl game.