How can I tell if he likes me?

The signs indicating whether a guy likes you depend on how old you are. If you’re under 10, he likes you if he pretends he doesn’t. No, wait, that also applies to some egotists of any age. Avoid them.

The bottom line is that usually, unless you’re still in grade school, you can tell whether a guy likes you if you’re honest with yourself. He pays you compliments or keeps calling you or emailing or texting you. In short, he follows up with you. He pursues you. Sometimes he’ll give you a hint by saying something like I really like you.

If you have to ask whether he likes you, that’s not a good sign, at least in my experience. Personally, if I like a guy, I have a hard time hiding it. I’m not going to ignore him or put off returning his calls to avoid seeming eager. If I’m eager to communicate with him, isn’t that a good thing? As soon as you begin to wonder whether someone likes you, you’ve probably just gotten the answer to your question.

Of course, there are always exceptions. Work, family obligations and medical emergencies can disrupt a budding romance without warning. And not everyone is well-behaved when it comes to communication. But in the early stages of a relationship, if you have to wonder whether the guy likes you, it’s probably a good idea to keep looking. You’ve got yourself a Lothario or someone who’s probably not going be good for you in the long haul. Move along, missy. There are better men to be had.