so I just got out of a LTR about 4 months ago, we went out for a good 4 years. it was unhealthy, as I got introduced to seddit and trp I've realized that everything that I have done in that relationship was everything these subreddits told me not to do.. so it was definitely an eye opener for me.

fast forward to this day, I now find interest on this girl some of my friends think she's an hb9 or 10. we all know each other hanged out a bunch of times but at that time I was still taken, so being friends with her had been my only goal. but now since I'm single I figured let me try go for her (but my clear intent this time was to get to know her and see if her personalities would fit mines). so i texted her and we would frequently see each other since we both have similar friends. so everytime when I see her in person I would do some light kino, i would catch eye contact etc. here thinking that everything might be working as planned. our group had a text game conversation (I just listened) but everytime she would say a good response she would smile and look at me, make cute faces and me and her would make eye contact.

but the other night we had some conversations about giving our one friend dating advice thru text. she kept on saying in the lines of "just go for it if you like her that much" and she would put things like "u'll never know unless you try" with "lol" in it and some emojis.. I mightve assumed that she was hinting me things.

so it was getting late and we both had work the next day and before we closed things off I mentioned how that conversation was my excuse of being able to talk to her more (I feel this part was the alcohol talking or not). the next day she texted me and mentioned "I like where are friendship is now, is that ok?" and added that that's what she thinks of me at this point and but she doesn't wanna rule anything out and that anything can happen. so i told her that the friendship we have is great, but that doesn't stop me from getting to know you more better, and if in time I see that you have the personalities of someone I would date then that would be a no brainer.. once I sent her that she told me that "we should be friends for now"

im a very optimistic person but sometimes my optimism leads to dismay. but instead of getting emotionally unstable I just got more excited and had thought to myself "challenge accepted" lol.

what other routes could or should I have taken?