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How to let an older man know I'm interested
(Sorry if this is a repeat question...though it was approved by mods, there seems to have been an issue with this showing up on the main forum).
I used to work with him, and when I moved to a different state it was really difficult. It was like...the world was beautiful in a nostalgic sense, something I once saw but couldn't anymore. The vitality was gone because I couldn't share it with him. Over the years the intensity of those feelings decreased, but they were always there. Sometimes I would dream that I was back there and he was there with me, and I would wake up and the loss was overwhelming.
But as fate would have it (and it truly was a twist of fate), I am back and working with him again. And it's almost like nothing's changed, like those years in between never happened. Except before, I thought my interest was one-sided: we had a very friendly professional relationship, but I didn't think it extended beyond that. Now, he's making what seem to be flimsy excuses to talk to me, he'll offhandedly ask if I'll be at different events around town, he'll ask my opinion on his work, etc. I'm on a short-term contract and he often asks if I'm making plans to stay beyond that end date. I have nothing but the greatest respect for this man, so I never would have tried to push things unless I thought my feelings might be reciprocated. But now...
It's driving me mad, because I know this flirtation under the guise of friendliness is where it will stay unless one of us makes the first move. I won't. I won't because I won't risk losing his respect in case I'm misinterpreting his behavior. And I know him - he won't unless he's sure I'm interested, in no small part because he's "the older man." The age gap is big. And I'm quite sure neither of us is regularly attracted to someone well outside their age range, so this is very new territory.
But this man is my soul mate. What am I saying? I don't even believe in soul mates. But there he is. So how can I subtly let him know I'm interested? I don't want to be too direct too quickly, because I can backtrack more easily out of a subtle approach if it turns out I've misread the situation. Any thoughts?
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Want to answer more questions in the Relationships category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Love Life?
Make up an excuse to spend some alone time together. Make sure you give him a chance to make the first move. Be subtle but don't make it too difficult for him. You need to do something about this or you'll never find out what could have happened and that's probably worse than being rejected.
Good luck.
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