Good morning ladies!

I need a bit of advice this morning. I will make this as short as possible.

I met a guy online, last year (May), he's 40 (I'm 35). From the beginning, he made it clear that he wanted someone who likes children, as he has a son (4 years old). We went on a few dates. Bit of information, he is a small business owner. He's VERY busy, but I understand that when people want you, they make time for you.

Long story short, one day, after canceling a date weeks earlier (due to scheduling issues with his child and work), he invited me to come over to his place. It was night. His son was there. I'd never been to his house. To this point, we had only hugged, never so much as even kissed. Side story, last date we went on, I swear he was trying to hump me while hugging me. I kind of pushed him back, but said nothing about it. Didn't bother me or make me feel violated in ANY way, just have never experienced that before.

Anyhow....

He invited me to his house. I declined. I wanted to meet his son. I wanted to see his place. But it was too early. Plus, in my mind, a man is only inviting you to his house for sex. After the decline, he acted like things were fine, but I started to notice him pulling away. He ultimately told me he couldn't give me what I was looking for, my pacing is too slow (assuming about physical contact) when I noticed he had become inconsistent in contact. I was bummed, but let it go.

I stopped contacting him. Like 2 months later, he started contacting me again, just to see how I was doing. I'm not dumb, I figured that whoever he was seeing wasn't working out, or he wasn't seeing anyone. One thing that I noticed was different was his preference for talking on the phone, as opposed to texting, which we did a lot before. This has been nice. And he does most of the initiating contact.

We have kept this pattern of just talking, as friends, periodically every few weeks. No flirting, purely friend stuff (family, business, etc). Back in December, since we have become friends, I asked him for dating advice since obviously things didn't work out with us, so I could maybe have success next go around. His response was that, basically, he said the reason things didn't work out with us was because I declined to come over (he asked if I wanted to know why). I explained my point of view and why I didn't.

Fast forward to this year. Last month, he started really playing up how he's a romantic guy, a good catch, etc.... Really boosting himself up. He also, suggested that we get together one day when I go for one of my walks at the marina. Immediately after that conversation, he then started flirting with me, and (hate to say it), the conversation turned sexual. The conversation was not so much us having phone sex, it was more him telling me about his sexual experiences, me sharing a few of mine, and us both talking about what we want in a partner sexually. One thing he expressed that was of concern to me was that he, sexually and romantically, is a giver, but he's used to women not caring about his needs like he does theirs. Again, this man and I have never had sex, let alone had sexually explicit conversation before.

After that conversation, I felt guilty. I had put up walls with a man who genuinely has treated me different and better than every man I've dated/been with. All he really wanted was someone to show him affection. Like, removing sex from the equation, I HAD NOT EVEN KISSED THIS MAN after several dates. NOT for lack of attraction, I'm super attracted to him. But that was the problem! I was so attracted to him, he did everything right... I didn't want to mess anything up and come off as a slut by getting too physical too early, especially since he was open about wanting a woman in he and his sons life, long term.... WHICH WAS WHAT I WANTED.

So here's where things are now....

Like a week and a half ago, against my better judgement, I sent him a long text. The text basically laid out my regret for how things turned out. How I wished I would have at least kissed him, how I regret not just coming over, etc. I also expressed concern that sending that text probably ruined our ability to be friends, which I've valued. Mind you, he did let me know, voluntarily, at various points, that he wasn't dating anyone else, was just focused on business. His immediate reply to my text was that he understood where I'm coming from and that he would like to have a conversation on the phone when I'm available. I had a busy business weekend planned, but immediately text him back letting him know I was going to be busy that weekend, but I was call him when available.

We ended up talking 3 days later. First conversation, he talked about the new motorcycle he was buying. We also talked about car clubs (he's in the auto industry) and he mentioned how WE should go to an event together (not a specific event, just generally speaking). I had to get off the phone, we had talked for like an hour. Asked if I could call him back later that night, he said yes. I called later that night. He didn't answer, but called me back like an hour later, I couldn't talk, he said he would call me later. He called me the next day, I was busy and didn't answer, but called him like an hour later. He was working. I told him to just call me later.

He hasn't called me back. This has been over a week.

Yes, he's shy... But yes he's also typically responsive, so for him to NOT all me back..... And considering that when we did talk, we didn't talk about my text....

I don't know what to make of this. I just know I'm not reaching out. Do I take the lack of response as the response?

Thoughts?