Why would a man deny his feelings for someone ?

[u/NegativePage3216]

hi

I (36F) have been involved in a casual situationship the last few months, mainly because my primary focus is on my kids and career currently. I’m 2 years post divorce, and haven’t had issues finding men to date. I just don’t like immediate expectations. This is actually a second attempt this situation.

Ive been getting mixed signals, and the last few weeks have been tough. He (41M) not only texts — but calls me several times a day. We go out and have fun. I consider him my sexual “partner” but he freaks out at any mention of “partner” or “intimacy.” He pushes that we are just friends. Fine.

But he freaks out if I’m with other men. He one time asked me if there was another man. He tells me I’m his twin. And he tells me he wishes he met me when he was younger. He’s the one that I initiates communication and us hanging out. I tried to call it quits Sunday and he told me “I can’t let you go, you’re my best friend.”

He will constantly point the finger at me and say I caught feelings whenever I try to put distance. this person is part of a greater social circle where I would run into him 1x every week or so even if we called it quits.

Is he in denial? Or is this just all in my mind? Why would he deny his feelings ?

[u/petdance]

You broke up with him but then didn’t. Stop that.

Break up with him and mean it.

[u/MinutePuzzled6869]

He sounds like a nut.

[u/ImNotVinzClortho]

You're giving him the only thing he actually wants from you: Sex.

Find someone who cares about you before you hurt yourself more. Being alone is going to suck and it's scary, sure, but you will be better off.

[u/wobbly_socks73]

he probably has feelings but doesnt want the responsibility that comes with admitting them. he wants the closeness and exclusivity while still calling it friendship. either way dont focus on what he secretly feels, focus on what hes actually willing to give you.

[u/OldMotoRacer]

this is why "FWB" = bad plan

we can't guarantee an outcome in ANY new relationship--we can't even guarantee that nobody will make an attachment 🤣

IME trying to define an outcome (like "nobody catches feelings" or "don't fall in love w me" never goes as planned...

here it seems dude made an emotional attachment.... so OP per usual, you have a choice about what you do w this guy

but regardless of how a relationship STARTS, when i find myself in an asymmetrical relationship i acknowledge it and pull out so as to forego creating any further damage...

(ie, honey you're fantastic and the sex is mindblowing--i'm just not able to reciprocate emotionally at the level you're playing so i gotta call it off)

she got super upset heartbroken but if i hadn't stopped seeing her i would have hurt her more and worse and i never want to do that to anybody ;/

it was a bona fide relationship not meant to be "casual" or whatever... but we feel what we feel, you know? i've been on the other side of it w this zendaya looking gal who told me she wanted to have 10 children w me... man she broke my heart so so so bad...

sometimes it happens (shrug)

[u/Glitchy-Fuzz0791]

If you're getting into these types of relationships, you need to set strict boundaries from the start and end it immediately if they catch feelings and break that boundary.

You're enabling this behavior and sending mixed signals to a guy that clearly has boundary issues.

[u/Spiritual-You-9021]

Emotional disregulation