There is this guy I've known since high school that I've always sort of had feelings for, but now we hang out more and I really like him...I'll try to summarize and make it short.
He moved back to town this summer and I started to like him. I thought he liked me too - I'd catch him watching me across the room, he'd try to impress me by playing my favorite songs on guitar, always sit next to me and talk to me, our legs would kind of brush each other, etc. Word got out that I liked him and so when taking him home after a trip out of town, I told him I knew he knew my feelings and I hoped it wasn't awkward because I liked being friends too, and he just sort of laughed it off and was like "I don't see why you like me, I'm pretty boring" and we just joked about it and so on. He said he was glad I could talk about it. Really I was hoping for some sort of verification about his feelings, but received none.
Oh yeah - the big problem is that he used to be best friends with my ex, who I dated for a couple years. Plus, he says he doesn't want a relationship right now because he gets hurt easily and is still recovering from his last relationship (that was like 6 months ago). I heard from a mutual good friend that he's been trying not to pay special attention to me and he's probably kind of scared because "nice girls" don't usually go for him, so he's not used to it. My ex shouldn't be a problem - it's been six months and he's seeing someone else, no feelings between us, etc. But I get it.
So fast-forward about two months to the day before Halloween and the usual flirting has been going on since, but I never brought up liking each other again - until I was at a Halloween party that night, had too much to drink, and texted him. I was embarrassed and he was having a Halloween party the next day, so when I saw him alone in his room that night I entered to apologize and explained that I was trashed and now embarrassed. He told me that he likes me, but the timing is wrong. We hugged and went back to the party, but I ended up falling asleep in his bed and woke up when he was getting in bed (I always drink too much at Halloween parties and it was the only place to lie down...). I wasn't in a condition to drive and I asked if it was OK for me to stay, and he said it was. We ended up cuddling and talking until we fell asleep...
Now I'm embarrassed about it and neither of us has ever brought it up. Everything is back to normal - casual flirting and stuff when we see each other. Last weekend I ended up at his house hanging out with friends - the usual: he sat beside me, got his guitar to show me a song he learned, tried to make me a drink, and so on. At the end of the night we were the only two left and we talked; it was really nice and comfortable - something that I rarely feel because I'm always nervous around him. We hung out until 6 in the morning and he walked me to his door...I kind of wish I had tried to kiss him.
Is making a move a bad idea? I know he has reasons for staying out of it, but then why does he act this way? He's not really a flirty guy, he's pretty quiet and shy usually. I can't imagine him making a move, though I know some guys don't like girls who do. This in-between unspoken crap is really frustrating me and leaving me clueless as to how to act. Any advice?