Is this normal friend behavior or does he like me?

[Vcas]

- My birthday was last month and he sent me a 2 minute voice memo to not only wish me a happy birthday, but highlight my personality from top to bottom. He said he needed to let me know just how amazing I am, and that I am truly something special.

- A week later he drunk texted me, said he feels tethered to me, and is only keen on being sweet to me.

- We went 5 days without talking last week (we both have very demanding jobs) and when we finally got together, he said that he missed me and that he's not insensitive to the lapse in time whenever it happens where we get caught up in our own lives. 

- I texted him this past weekend, I was having a cozy night in and he was watching boxing with some of his friends. He said he was having a swell time, and now he gets to hear from me. "Man I'm so lucky" and "I got a good thing, sorry I'm just thinking out loud" are some of the things he said to me right after. Said he fell off the wagon and smoked for the first time in a while, and that he's sorry if he babbles.

The whole night he just kept praising me, saying things like how I'm "simply the best" and that I'm as much of a sweetheart as ever. My gut is telling me that he likes me and he's just trying to follow the implied rules of a platonic friendship.

What do you make of this?

Edited October 12, 2021 by Vcas

[stillafool]

It sounds like he likes you as more than a friend or at least wants to.  Do you like him as more than a friend?

[smackie9]

Guys only pay special attention to girls they like.

[Wiseman2]

How do you know each other? Have you met in person? Is this a distance situation?

Are either of you in relationships? He seems into you but it's very strange he never asked you out.

[Daisydooks]

My platonic guy friends do not speak to me like this. Guys who have wanted to date me or who are into me, do Lol.

It sounds like he is putting feelers out to see if you are reciprocating his feelings. Do you like him? Maybe he is waiting for a sign from you and is super nervous to make a move. But he is definitely crossing the line between friend and lover boy!