What is he waiting for

So I've been friends with this man for a few years. We worked together, spent most of our time at work together, speak all day and night mostly everyday. The thing is he never invited me to spend time with him outside of work. He likes going out with his friends. He's not dating anyone but he won't offer to ever hang out and when I offer he has an excuse. I mentioned to a mutual friend that maybe he doesn't enjoy my friendship as much as I do and he confided that my friend mentioned to him that he feels he might be in love with me. That he thinks I'm the perfect woman for him. THAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE CONFUSING. I have no idea why he wouldn't want to spend time with me outside of work if he has all these hidden feelings. Does anyone have a clue or ever dealt with anything similar?

A lot of guys are actually avoiding the dating scene lately. It has become quite brutal. There is also the chance, that he thinks what you have now is perfect. And he doesn't want to risk losing it.

I've had that a few years back. Honestly thought the guy had serious feelings for me but he behaved the same way you described. Ends up he was actually in a relationship and regardless of how he felt about me he wasn't free to be with me. So in actual fact he was cheating with me.