Online dating sucks
But maybe, just maybe, you've already got that perfect someone in your friend group
and just don't know it. Here's how to tell. I'm about to kiss my best friend
I hope so. It might not be obvious right away when a friend likes you
But as they get to know you better and their interest grows, they may start to flirt
Subtly, at least. Look out for things like stronger eye contact, gentle teasing, and then increasing compliments
If your friend begins to make comments about how you look nice on a particular day, or really liking your outfit another day
then they may be building up the courage to more outwardly show that they have a crush on you
As for teasing... Oh no! Oh yeah. You are so dorky! Thank you
If a friend who's never joked around with you before starts in subtle ways
then that's a pretty good sign that they've got a thing for you. Just make sure to set clear boundaries if that teasing crosses over into unwanted comment territory
It isn't just verbal flirting that'll tell you if your friend is interested in something more
Body language is extremely important when it comes to communicating respect, active listening, and interest without saying a single word
If your friend is romantically inclined toward you, then you may begin to pick up on attraction body language signals
leaning into you when the two of you are speaking, or nodding along with what you are saying in a way that's genuine
Tilting their head when listening to you speak also shows that they taking in and absorbing what you telling them And if your friend smiles at you while you speaking especially if that smile comes across as genuinely excited then they likely interested in you If you feel a respectful
warmth from your friend while you're speaking to them, particularly when you're sharing deeper
stories, then they clearly care about you. Phones are everywhere, and screens are an easy distraction
But if your friend is interested in you, you might notice they're not checking their phone
or looking at other devices around you. Since checking our phones has become such a frequent habit
it's unusual to go too long without giving them a glance. If your friend is putting their screens to the side
and giving you their full, uninterrupted, screen-free attention, they're showing that they're attuned to what you're saying
Bonus points if your friend shows cues of active listening, reflecting back to you what you're saying with open-ended questions
non-judgmental responses, and general patience. When you're head over heels for someone
you want to know everything about them. So, as you spend time together with your friend
whether one-on-one or in a group, take note of the types of questions your friend asks you
Do they want to know about your family, how your professional life is going, and other, more personal things because they're truly curious about you? It could be a sign
And if asking deep questions is a sign of romantic interest, then so too is your friend actually remembering details about you and the things you've shared
with them. Why do I remember this place is so bad? Because that's how you remember your entire childhood. You painted the whole thing with
a s*** brush, but it's not true. You're right. In fact you may realise that your friend remembers things you don even recall That one blue shirt you wore last week Your lunch order from Tuesday Remembering small details is a strong sign that your friend has a crush on you Even more you might notice that friend also remembers details
about more intimate information you've shared with them, like the name of your childhood pet or elementary school crush
Communication goes both ways. If your friend is both romantically interested in you
and feels as though they can genuinely trust you, they might begin to share intimate details about their life with you
This has two purposes. One is to share things about themselves that they want to impress you with
The other is to show you that they genuinely trust you, and they feel safe letting their guard down around you
What's more, keep an eye out for your friend's grooming behavior. Sounds weird, sure, but if said friend does stuff like tuck their shirt in or fix their
hair when they're around you, that's known as preening, an instinctive habit humans are
known to do when trying to impress a potential partner. Beyond whether or not your friendship turns romantic
take all this as a compliment that someone feels so comfortable opening up to you
At the very least, you'll know that you and your friend have a close trust between you
regardless of the endgame being romantic or platonic. What are your plans
I don't know. What's your future look like? A friend with romantic interest in you is going to want to know about what's going on in your life
but they're going to be especially interested in your future plans and aspirations
While it's normal for friends to ask one another what they think they'll be doing in the future, A friend with romantic interest will likely start to ask you questions that extend beyond
travel plans or job interviews They want to know what you plan to do in life what you hope to accomplish in your career and your core ambitions Asking about your future plans could be their way of assessing if your values and goals align with theirs whether they conscious of the fact
they're doing this or not. Just as your friend's attempts to flirt with you will likely progress
over time, so will their desire to spend time together outside of a group setting. Does your
friend specifically seek you out and spend most of their time with you rather than other people
in a group? Or if you hang out one-on-one, do they suggest activities that are specific to your
interests? When the two of you are alone together, pay attention to the many collective cues. Is your
friend actively listening, asking thoughtful questions in response, and continuing to recall
details of your past anecdotes? Is their body language showing interest by leaning forward
smiling, tilting their head, or playing with their hair? Are they trying to impress you? And if your
friend mentions meeting their family, that's pretty much confirmation of their crush
Lastly, a friend with a deeper affection for you will be concerned about your safety
They might check in on you after you've driven home late at night, or if they know you have an intense work project coming up
It's a sign that they want for you to be physically, emotionally, and mentally cared for and safe
They're genuinely invested in your well-being. And that emotional attentiveness comes through in other ways, too
That friend should always be respectful of your boundaries, including your personal space
They won't make intimate advances that make you uncomfortable. They'll also be there when you need a hand, like a jump for your car battery
a ride to the airport or help putting furniture together. They'll be first in line for you