@santypanties3,
You asked a guy to go to the gym. He (like most people) did not see this as anything special. He brought a friend with him to work out. Everybody worked out. This is still nothing special. He smiled at you (and perhaps smiled at 50 other people that day). Nice, but not necessarily evidence of anything. He liked 5 old pictures of you. No evidence of whatever else he might have liked on FB that day (he could have liked 500 pictures from 100 other women, for all we know).
Next time - be a LOT clearer in your communications. Say the following, "Steve (or whatever his name is), I'm going for coffee after the gym. Do you want to come along?"
And he says one of the following -
- Yes
- No
- I'll see how tired I am.
- No because I've got to get back to ___ but let's get coffee some other time.
If he brings a pal with him, then consider that he is not interested. If he does not, then have a lovely conversation and make sure to clearly ask, "Can I see you for dinner some time?" And he will say one of the following -
- Yes
- No, sorry, but I don't like you that way.
- I can't because I'm on a diet (or some other reason for not specifically getting dinner) but let's do ___ instead.
The coffee is the preliminary to a date. It can be a date but it is not 100% clear (but it's a way to bring things up a small level). Dinner is a date, and it is clear (and yes, you can ask him). Him bringing a pal to coffee means he is likely not seeing you as date material. You ask for coffee rather than dinner first because it is easier for everyone to graciously back out of it. Understand?