The conversation was amazing, sparks seemed to be flying, and then—nothing, nada. The popularized belief is that if a guy is interested, then he will make it abundantly clear by asking for your number, texting you, or just flat-out telling you. As a guy who has been in the dating scene for a while, I can speak on behalf of my fellow men when I say that it takes more than merely liking a girl to ask her out.

The Date Mix A couple laughing in a cafe with the guy giving off signs he’s into you Well, actually, it’s usually pretty obvious; because guys are not that subtle, Smiling is always a good sign, but how do you know if he’s genuinely smiling He’ll find excuses to touch you in a sweet, kind way, like softly.

Andrea loves to write about the zodiac and research astrological compatibility. She’s been an online writer for over five years. He keeps staring at you, giving you compliments, and randomly giving you hugs— he definitely likes you. For now, we’ll say that’s enough to know that he enjoys the time he spends with you and appreciates you.

But is that enough to say that he wants you to be his girlfriend? Not so fast—this is where things get tricky. There are a number of reasons why a guy might think a woman is cool but doesn’t want to pursue a relationship with her. If you’re investing a lot of time and energy into this person, it’s important to know what his motives are before you fall too hard. Even though you guys might spend a lot of time talking or hanging out, it’s hard to know for sure if someone wants a commitment or not.

Here are a few signs and subtle hints that he wants to start a serious relationship with you.