Think aloud
Whether you’re a teenager or well into your 40s, when a guy says he misses you, it feels like you’ve won the lottery.
It might be an ex you’re not over, your crush, or the man you’re dating. Nonetheless, remember that some guys say it routinely to get company when they’re bored or looking for a hookup!
So, this should only be exciting news if you are sure when a guy says he misses you, he’s saying it for the right reasons.
So how can you tell he’s genuine when a guy says he misses you?
It’s one thing being told by the man you love that he misses you.
But you need to keep your guard up to protect your heart from insincere men who say this when they don’t mean it.
1. He keeps the conversation going
When a guy says he misses you and means it, he’ll make an effort to communicate with you.
This means coming up with things to talk about to keep the conversation going.
If he’s not really missing you, the conversation will feel forced.
From the way a guy texts you or even talks to you over the phone, you can figure out whether he’s sincere when he says he misses you or only making contact because he wants something from you.
To determine his intentions, try ignoring his texts for a few hours to get a reaction.
The time he takes to text you back and his replies will give you the clues you need to figure out if he’s genuine.
A guy who doesn’t really miss you won’t bother texting back if you have ignored his texts for some time.
Your silence will be taken as a negative answer.
But if he sends another text or calls worried because you didn’t answer, it shows that his feelings are sincere.
Some small talk over the phone or a short texting session won’t satisfy a guy who really misses you, that’s why he’ll do his best to keep the conversation going.
Just watch for signs he misses you and act accordingly.
2. He interacts with you on social media
Social media is the go-to for most people when it comes to keeping contact with friends or showing affection to those they treasure.
A guy who genuinely misses you will keep liking and commenting on your photos and checking your statuses.
Even if he can’t respond to your posts, you’ll see him following your social media activity.
Everyone does this when they miss someone, so when a guy says he misses you, it’s no different.
If he’s into you, he’ll be interested in knowing who you’re seeing and what you’re up to.
Nobody bothers to keep up with the progress of people they don’t care about.
That said, be wary of stalkers who are only interested in checking your progress on social media for malicious agendas or to gauge whether you are doing better than them.
3. He always talks about you
If you have mutual friends and they tell you that he’s been talking about you, then take it as a sign that he does miss you.
It’s human nature to talk about those who we treasure and love because they are always on our minds.
If he can’t help but talk about you even when you aren’t around, he’s missing you. Talking about loved ones makes it feel like they’re with us.
He’ll be talking about you even to strangers because he wants people to know he’s crazy about you.
When a guy says he misses you and he’s genuine, trust me that he’s thinking about you all the time and that’s why he can’t stop talking about you.
4. He asks for your pictures
If he asks for pics of you, he really does miss you.
Just be careful, though, because as much as it could be innocent, it could also be a naughty or dirty move.
If it’s innocent, he only wants to be able to look at your face all the time, even if it’s only virtually.
Seeing the face of someone you love or treasure makes you happy and it will be the case if a guy misses you.
So, if you’ve determined he doesn’t have any other ulterior motives besides seeing you every time he checks his phone, then go ahead and send him a selfie.
5. He requests to spend time with you
A guy who genuinely misses you will want to spend time with you, even if briefly.
You can tell he’s sincere about it if after meeting up, he talks about the next time he’ll see you.
If this is the case, it means that he’s into you and looking for more of you, especially if it’s only been the first date.
Someone who is serious about having you in his life will make an effort in planning the next meet-up.
He’ll also make sure he picks a time when both of you don’t have other commitments.
So, be patient and smart, and wait to see whether he really misses you or you’re just another piece of entertainment to cure his boredom.
6. He shows some jealousy
Someone who misses you will show some jealousy, but it should not be the possessive kind.
Guys like marking their territories and showing everyone that you’re together.
It’s an effort to reduce competition by letting others know you are taken and they shouldn’t come between the two of you.
When a guy says he misses you, he wants a chance to make it work.
The thing is, jealousy can be annoying – especially if you are trying to keep things on the low.
As long as it doesn’t feel suffocating and is within normal limits, you can let him be.
But, it’s time to draw the line if he starts becoming too controlling because he doesn’t trust you.
Some men are so insecure that they create scenarios in their heads that you’ll meet someone new and leave them.
That’s why some situations might be blown out of proportion.
No matter how in love he says he is, don’t let him restrict you or rob you of your freedom.
That’s not love. Someone who does that has serious problems.
7. His friends tell you how crazy he is about you
His friends know him better than anyone else, so believe them when they give you hints that he’s truly into you.
This is common in case the two of you were dating then broke up.
He may not come out and tell you that he’s not over you, but trust the hints you get from his friends that he’s not over you and that he misses you.
If his friends tell you he still talks about you and the good times you had, then it shows he misses you.
He may even be asking them about your love life and for dating advice to make sure he doesn’t screw up again.
A guy who’s accepted his portion of the blame when it comes to a breakup, and isn’t forcing you to get back with him, should be considered for a second chance.
But first, make sure it’s what you want.
When a guy says he misses you, it doesn’t mean you are obligated to give him a second chance. Do so if you are interested.
8. He suggests a video call
Technology has made it possible to video-call people from all over the world.
And with the strong internet connection options available, it’s almost like the other person is right next to you.
Talking over the phone is great when you’re missing someone, but video calls take it up a notch.
You are able to see the other person’s facial expressions, which makes it feel like you’re talking face-to-face.
So, if he wants to FaceTime you or uses other video call apps to chat to you, you can be sure that he misses you a lot.
It’s not just your voice he wants to hear when a guy says he misses you, but also to see your face and aura as you catch up.
Also, take note of compliments he gives during the video sessions or his attempts to flirt.
If this is the case, you don’t need more hints to know that the boy is head over heels for you.
9. He’s always drunk-dialing you
Drunk-dials aren’t always about booty calls. The girl a guy calls when he’s drunk is the one he’s into.
Guys often get drunk to forget the things bothering them but when they become tipsy, the feelings come tumbling out.
That’s the hour of truth when he can’t hold back any longer.
Being drunk also gives a guy the confidence to call to tell you all the things he’ll be too embarrassed to admit when sober.
But this only holds if he’s calling to apologize for not treating you right and to say he misses you and still loves you.
If he is drunk dialing you to come over, then you need to block his number and forget you ever knew him.
What to say when a guy says he misses you?
You know that friend who was more than a friend and you grew apart, or the ex you’re still in love with?
Yeah, the one who just crossed your mind? What would you say if he called or texted to say he misses you?
What if it is an ex you vowed to never go back to?
How you respond to a guy when he says he misses you comes down to whether you are interested or not.
If he says he misses you first and you’d like to pursue a relationship with him, make it clear in your response.
But shut down further romantic talks or even the possibility of a reconnection if you’re not interested in the guy, despite him telling you he misses you all the time.
If you are looking for tips on what to say when a guy says he misses you, deep down you already know what you really want.
You just need the courage to act and not keep typing, “he says he misses me, what should I do?” on your search bar. You’ll keep getting the same results!
How to respond when a guy says he misses you – and you miss him back?
1. I miss you too
When a guy says he misses you first and you miss him back, you should let him know.
Don’t get caught up with the bliss of “he says he misses me” and forget to send a reply if you are indeed interested.
“I miss you too” is also a great response if you’re considering dating the guy and you want to test the waters.
In the initial stages of getting to know each other, ensure you are expressing your feelings.
Sure, texting your girlfriends “he says he misses me!” does feel great, but remember to text the guy as well.
He needs to know how you feel about him so that he doesn’t waste time or keep bothering you when you’d like to be left alone.
Expressing your feelings when a guy says he misses you all the time also allows for honest and open communication.
This is essential for any budding relationship because it is the foundation on which the relationship will be built.
2. Be coy
It’s not always recommended, but if you are sure what the guy wants, you should play along. It makes things interesting.
If the guy has known you for a while and understands your personality, he may even be anticipating this response.
First of all, when you ask him why he misses you, it will force him to be creative in responding.
No matter what his reply is, cut him some slack because he went the extra mile to come up with sweet things to explain why he misses you.
So, be nice in your response.
3. Suggest a meetup
No one is immune to rejection. When a guy says he misses you first, he’s putting himself out there and it can be nerve-racking for shy people.
Saying he misses you might be his way of testing to see whether it is safe for him to suggest something more or not.
You can also make things easier for him and suggest a meetup.
Gone are the days when ladies just sat and waited to be wooed while being stubborn and unreasonable.
Men and women are now both making the first move.
If you really want to see him, invite him over and take things from there.
Otherwise, those “he says he misses me” texts you’ve been sending to your girlfriends might quickly turn into “why did he lose interest?”
4. Get flirty
You may not be next to him, but it doesn’t mean you can’t make things interesting. If you can’t be together at the moment, use that time to get flirty.
In an imaginary situation, anything is possible.
It also forces both of you to get creative. You may surprise yourselves and when you finally do meet up, it’ll be even better.
Also, flirting builds anticipation for when you see each other. So, don’t be uptight because that relationship will lose its fire even before it starts.
5. If you can’t meet up, let him know
When a guy says he misses talking to you and you feel the same way, communicate that.
But there will be times you may not be able to meet him as soon as you would have wished.
Don’t just ghost him or go mute until you have an opening in your schedule.
You need to explain to him why you can’t meet up and give him a rough idea of when you’ll be available.
When a guy says he misses talking to you, take actions that show you miss talking to him too.
Unrequited love hurts and no matter how much the guy is into you, it will reach a point where he’ll get tired.
When you don’t give an explanation, you’ll leave him guessing and this can bring paranoia.
Not many guys will opt to keep pursuing you, especially if there’s a strong possibility of eventually getting rejected.
If this isn’t the impression you want the guy to have, be clear about what you want.
Also, don’t just say you aren’t available and leave it at that. Follow up with a suggestion for rescheduling at a time when both of you are free.
How to respond when a guy says he misses you – but you don’t feel the same way?
1. Give him a chance to explain himself
If what happened was irreconcilable or if you are simply not interested, then cutting ties is a good move.
But if all hope is not lost, give the guy a chance to explain.
It might be that you’re angry about what he did.
Giving a response, even if it is an angry one, keeps the communication lines open for him to explain himself.
Getting closure or the long-awaited apology, even if you don’t plan on getting back with him, does give you peace.
When you have closure, it’s easier to move on because you won’t be held back by what could’ve been.
Nevertheless, some guys are not sincere and will give a lame excuse or even downplay what they did.
This is your cue to sever ties with such a person and move on.
You are better off without someone who can never take responsibility for the mess he creates.
2. I miss you but…
If you still miss him despite the past that’s weighing heavily against the possibility of a reunion, it’s okay to admit that to him.
This is usually taken as a sign that there is hope for reconciliation and the guy might work hard to get you back.
But some men are manipulative and never change, no matter how many chances you give or how hard you try to make them see what they’ve done wrong.
Even if you still have feelings for him, going back to a manipulative guy is no different from handing him a loaded gun, knowing very well he’ll use it on you.
In that case, accept that you miss him and you’ll probably be in love with him for a long time, but do the right thing by you and stay away from him.
No matter how hard it is, do your best and get strength from the fact that your life is happier and more peaceful without him.
3. Block him
If the breakup happened due to irreconcilable differences, you shouldn’t be leaving any room for communication.
Remember the no contact rule and live by it.
Ignore the guy if you genuinely don’t care about him or how he feels about you.
If you’ve made it clear you’re not interested in him and there’s no possibility of that changing in the future, and he still imposes his feelings on you, go ahead and obliterate his existence from your life.
You’ll feel lighter afterward and you can move on to better things.
It’s much easier to do that now, even in a world so connected. Ignore him, unfriend him from all social media sites, and block his number.
Avoid places you may bump into him if you live in the same area. Soon, he’ll be a distant memory and you’ll be building a happier life without him.
Conclusion
When a guy says he misses you, it may come from a place of malice or of love.
You need to learn the signs he misses you with no strings attached.
If you are alert, you’ll recognize a guy who has ulterior motives when you get that first “I miss you” text or call.
Knowledge is power and in this case, it will protect you from having your heart broken again, or rather brushing off a potentially great partner because you lack discernment.
