The early stage of a relationship is a period of uncertainties and unanswered questions. Some men might love this time because it allows them to pretend they’re not dating you. They can also pretend they’re not responsible for your feelings. At this point, it’s crucial to understand the difference between the initial “hanging out” and an actual date. An invitation to a first date has a more official tone and might sound like, “I’d like to see you alone to find out if we have a romantic future together.” Usually, people meet in public places, such as restaurants, or take a walk in the park, holding hands.

Sometimes, women think they’re in a relationship with a guy when it’s not really the case. Let’s consider the example of Keisha, who turned to Greg Behrendt for advice. She has been close with a guy for three months. They would go to events together and have a great time. The only catch was that he didn’t want to be anyone’s boyfriend. Now, she’s confused about whether they have a serious relationship and he’s really into her.

As Behrendt notes, both men and women want to feel emotionally secure when the relationship becomes serious. One way to do this is to stake their claim. You'll notice if a man wants to go steady with you. They essentially would start using phrases like, “I’m your boyfriend” or “This is my girlfriend.”

Liz Tuccillo asserts that starting new relationships is scary, especially knowing they often end before moving to the next stage. For guys, some meetups might be just an example of “hanging out.” Sadly, such interactions are not the same as dating. Remember, guys tell you about their feelings even if you refuse to listen or believe them. Their phrase “I don’t want a serious relationship” actually means “I don’t want to have a serious relationship with you.”

Being in a relationship based on “better than nothing” is not good enough for you. If you don’t know where the relationship is heading, you can stop and discuss all the issues together. However straightforward that sounds, you should find a guy who wants to be with you and is happy to tell everyone you’re his girlfriend.