HE WON'T MAKE CONTACT

Dear Jellybean,

My guy friend recently told me that he likes me. And I think I like him too. But the one thing that really confuses me is that he won't ever make physical contact. Every time I touch him he jumps. And when we are sitting or standing he will be at least three feet away. It's like he's scared of me. How can I get him to loosen up? I flirt with him sometimes and he flirts with me back but he will never touch me. Most guys can't keep their hands to themselves when they're with the girl they like which is why I'm so confused about this. I've never seen it before. Does he really like me? What's up?
-Wants Contact

Dear Wants Contact,

With all due respect, your question made me smile. It's a crazy situation when a girl doesn't recognize what a guy who's been struck by Cupid's arrow really looks like.

Those guys who can't keep their hands to themselves? That's what they are all about - themselves - and what they can "get" girls to let them do. Their groping has about as much to do with love as pickles have to do with elephants - in a word, nothing.

Your guy friend likes you. He was brave enough to tell you so. More than that, he is so "in like" with you that he is either too nervous to get close to you (because the idea of touching you is probably so exciting to him that it makes his brain go wonky), or he is scared that he'll do something wrong, and you'll think he's lame and won't want to hang out with him anymore.

So what should you do? Give him time. Be nice to him. If you like him back, tell him so straight-out. Stop touching him, and let him touch you when he's ready. Keep flirting and also getting to know each other better. Spend time with him and see how things go when you let them unfold naturally. In other words, treat him with respect and patience. When he feels comfortable, and trusts that you're not going to break his heart, if he likes you as much as it sounds like, he is going to make his move eventually. Basically, if he's worth waiting for - wait!