Mixed signals? What do i do now?

[KristineG]

Me and my ex broke up about a month ago. It was three weeks of no contact before he contacted me to see how I've been. At first he tested the waters with a prank call and texted a bit then went missing for three days and contacted again asking how I have been. Since then we have been talking for about two weeks or so but because we are no longer together things aren't the same at all. Even though he is the one that opened up the lines of communication and contacted me, he seems distant. He has always been a really bad texter in all honesty because we are used to being together in person all the time but he just forgets to reply a lot more now. Ill wait for hours for a response and sometimes he doesn't respond altogether for at least a couple of days until I initiate it (very rarely, I usually wait till he contacts me first). It bothers me honestly, I just feel like I'm not important to him anymore... which I guess would be fine if he hadn't came back into my life. He made it clear he never remains friends with any ex girlfriends because the feelings would always be there and has proven it to me with all of his other ex girlfriends, yet he is back again. At first he would ignore me and we went no contact as he said needed space at the end of the relationship to consider getting back together. He initially had said we couldn't be together with no explanation but I know that I overwhelmed him with my emotions and on top of that all of the other problems he is facing concerning his child and other stuff. I know it has nothing to do with his child's mother as they don't speak personally only for visitation. He has never lied to me either, always been honest even about difficult situations. There was no cheating, no other woman, it was mainly just a break we both needed from each other as he dumped me in the heat of the moment while we were arguing and hurtful things were said. Anyhow, at the beginning of the break up he still contacted my friends, but never myself and told my friend that he and I couldn't be friends right now because we would just fall in love again and he would hurt me. But now he has returned...and is giving me mixed signals. This is what the past few weeks have looked like.

We have recently just met up in person. He asked me to go to the gym with him. The first time things didn't go as planned, I had taken too long and he had left before I got there but offered to return but didn't do so until I had left not knowing I was leaving. He never texted me the next day. So I texted and asked him if he was going to the gym that day. He said he was and that he would meet me there if I decided to go (I did not ask him to or even hint that I wanted him to) but he didn't realize it closed early that day and couldn't make it as he worked an hour away and by the time he got there it would close in thirty minutes, but he offered to hang out instead. I told him I was probably just going to leave, and that maybe the following day if he wanted to hit the gym that would be ok too. I pretty much left the ball in his court, just leaving the opportunity open. The next day he messaged me asking me what I was doing and later saying he wanted to go the gym and if I wanted to go. So we met up. It was just like old times. Laughing and having a good time meanwhile focusing on working out. Then we texted afterwards until he went out drinking and never texted back, he told me who he was with and all that good stuff and I know even though we aren't together he wouldn't disrespect me like that, at least not without completely cutting me off first.

The next day I had an early shift, texted him good morning and told him I had a good time and hopefully we could do it again. He asked if that same day was possible. I agreed, as I was going anyways. This time we brought his cousin who I had invited the night before. He almost didn't make it because of his car, which was true because it barely wanted to turn on when we were leaving. so we finished up our work out which was only an hour. I was surprised he agreed cause usually that's not enough time for him. But I noticed each time we hung out he would always linger as we were leaving. He wanted to check out my new car, drive him to his car cause it was too cold to walk when it was walking distance away, about 10 parking spaces away, we just sat listening to music until he finally said he was going to go. And even while working out we were just really comfortable with each other like nothing ever happened, and just kept staring it seemed like he was trying to impress me too which kind of makes me laugh and was a bit jealous when his friends approached me or tried to show off in front of me as he tried to keep my attention. Maybe I'm overthinking it but it was cute. Over all we had an amazing time. The second time we talked a little and he asked me if I worked the next day (he was going to ask me to go to the gym again) but my schedule wouldn't allow it. He also always seems to want me to invite him out. When I text and ask him "so what're you up to?" he always answers and asks why... its what he would always do when we were together and I would invite him out. If he really did not want to he would avoid it. He just does not like inviting himself as he puts it. Anyways, he didn't text me immediately after that but I sent him a picture of the food his cousin and I were eating and joked about working out being purposeless. he responded laughing and I sent another text and he never responded till that night when I texted him and I told him I didn't know if I could be his friend because I was too in love with him. Which is true because I keep hearing about him with other females where I work, but I personally don't think its true as they are not familiar with his relatives which are all female and share little similarities. I don't think he is dumb enough to show his face with another woman for more reasons than hurting me. He only goes with family. That and he would not be talking to me if he was with someone else out of respect for that person. His cousin also told me he is not talking to anybody after I had told her I was cutting him off for that reason. She mentioned that he would be going out a lot more and nobody has been around which is how they knew about me, I was always over and going out with him every weekend or staying over. Plus I live in a small town, I would have had someone telling me by now ha. Anyways, he never texted back... so I apologized this morning for acting irrationally and he responded very quickly to my messages and apologizing for never responding as he had fallen asleep, but he's working and hasn't responded yet again...each time he forgets he always explains himself so I trust him.

My point is I can't tell what he wants from me. He KNOWS better than to contact me right now knowing damn well I still love him.. yet he does. Especially in person. One day he's extremely interested, the next he's vague and not around. I don't know what to do from here. He opened contact both in text and in person yet doesn't define the boundaries of the friendship/relationship...

I do want him back...but if that's not possible I would rather him tell me so I can do what I have to do for myself and move forward (cut him off completely).

I am moving forward regardless of his actions. But I just have this feeling that we are going to get back together, like I KNOW we are in time. Something wont let me give up on him... I have never felt such a secure feeling.

I can honestly say I am pretty impatient though.

What do I do next if I do want him back? I'm really confused.

[NTV]

How old are you both?

[KristineG]

I will be 20 next month and he will be 21 in two months

[NTV]

There's more to life than this guy. Don't trap yourself with him. No feeling lasts forever.