If your friend has a relaxed posture, with their torso facing towards you, it’s a sign that they feel at ease. It may mean they like you or it may just mean they are comfortable being around you. Watch for signs that your friend’s posture has changed around you. For instance, if they normally act relaxed, but now they seem stiff, it may be a sign that they are nervous because they have a crush on you. If your friend usually has their arms crossed or they stand with their body turned away from you any time you’re around, they may not be crushing on you. However, if they only act closed off every once in awhile, it might mean they are talking to someone else or are busy.
Some eye contact is natural during a conversation, so pay attention to whether your friend makes more eye contact with you than with other people. If your friend smiles at you before they break eye contact, it may be a sign that they’re interested. [5] X Expert Source Joshua PompeyDating Coach Expert Interview. 27 November 2019. If you want to show your friend that you like them, too, smile back![6] X Research source If you notice that your friend is suddenly making more eye contact than usual, or out of the blue they won’t meet your gaze, it may be a sign that they’ve started to see you as a romantic interest.
If you and your friend don’t normally hug and they start hugging you, this may also be a sign they like you. People sometimes feel awkward when they realize they like someone. If your friend usually hugs you but suddenly stops hugging you, this might actually be a sign they have a crush on you, too.
Your friend might compliment the softness of your sweater, for instance, while touching your arm. If your friend suddenly becomes very physically affectionate, it could mean they like you. On the other hand, if the two of you touch each other often and your friend suddenly stops, they may be self-conscious because they like you. Some people are just naturally affectionate. If your friend frequently touches anyone they’re talking to, it may not mean anything when they do it to you.
If you want to test the water on this one, try telling a joke that you know is corny, then watch to see whether your friend laughs.
Some people are just complimentary in general, so don’t read too much into a single comment.
If you mention you love Skittles, for instance, and your friend brings it up a few weeks later, they might like you. Your friend might just have a good memory, so it doesn’t necessarily mean they have a crush.
Helpful gestures don’t have to be a big deal. For instance, your friend might offer to grab you a bottle of water because you forgot to get a drink. If you think your friend has a crush on you, don’t take advantage of their desire to help you. This will make you seem insensitive and uncaring.
If your friend likes you, they might act jealous or annoyed if you are crushing on someone else, or they might get very quiet if the subject of your dating life comes up. Your friend will probably not mention having crushes on other people if they like you. [18] X Research source
Try saying something like, “I’ve noticed Steph is acting a little different towards me lately. Do you think it’s because she likes me?” While you may be able to get some good feedback from another friend, the person may not be sure, or they may not want to get involved in the situations.
To bring up the conversation without seeming obvious, tell your friend how much they mean to you. Mention a few things you specifically like about them. This may make them feel encouraged enough to admit their feelings. If your friend tells you how much they value your friendship but doesn’t say anything further, it may mean they want to remain your platonic friend.
Try saying something like, “Lately I’ve been getting the feeling that you want to be more than friends. I think it will be better for our friendship if we talk about it. ” If your friend denies liking you, try to move on from the conversation quickly. Don’t make a big show out of being relieved, in case they are trying to hide their true feelings.
Say something like, “I am so glad you told me and that’s so flattering. I’m sorry, but I don’t have the same feelings towards you. If you’d like, I hope we can stay close friends. If not, I understand. ”
After a week or 2, try reaching out to your friend to see if they’d like to join you and a few other friends to hang out. However, it’s probably not a good idea to spend one-on-one time together for a while, to avoid your friend getting mixed signals.
It’s natural to worry about harming the friendship if a romantic relationship doesn’t work out, but keep in mind that it will be better to know for sure rather than wondering later if you missed a chance at love.
