i've been working with this guy for months now and i developed a crush on him very quickly. he confessed his feelings to me a few weeks ago and told me that the moment he saw me he thought i was the love of his life, and he even told his friends about me. he says that i'm his exact type and he hasn't felt this way about a girl in a long time, and says that he wants a relationship with me and isn't willing to just hook up because he sees a future with me. that week we hung out and face-timed often, and he'd call me and tell me how much he missed me.
just two weeks pass by and he starts pulling away, isn't affectionate, flakes on our plans and takes ages to text back. when i ask him what's wrong, he tells me that his ex (who is taken) reached out to him after a long period of no contact. she cheated on him and he never wants to date her again, but the situation still hurt him badly and he told me that he's still recovering from it. apparently hearing from her resurfaced some feelings in him and he tells me that he doesn't see a relationship with me anymore, and i assume that he's lost feelings for me, so i tell him that i don't want to see him or talk to him anymore outside of work.
this past week we ran into each other at a bar and had a drunk kiss, but later he tells me he shouldn't have done that and that he's sorry. despite that he's been flirty at work again and says he wants to be friends w benefits again. it all happened so quickly, and when i asked him how his feelings could change so abruptly he says that it's because he's had a lot on his mind and being with me has made those past relationship traumas bubble up to the surface.
do i keep trying with him or am i being stupid? should i just cut him off and forget pursuing anything romantic? i still have serious feelings for him, and i want to keep seeing him but i'm scared that trying will hurt me more.
