You girls are giving the guys to much credit. Most do not know what they want. They look for physical attraction, then if smart, mutual interest. I think mutual interest is a point of interest that is most often over looked. Mutual interest will stay when sex has cooled. Play together & stay together .
It is hard to stay with someone that bores you, mutual interest is not boring. It gives you a foundation.

I'm going to hop on the "Just Ask" bandwagon. It's waaay too stressful to try to figure someone out. It is difficult to bring up, but you deserve to know where you stand with anybody who is a part of your life, especially if you are sleeping with him/her. You may not get the answer you want to hear, but it's easier to make an informed decision if you have all the relevant information.

The two things are not mutually exclusive. A guy can be interested in you AT FIRST, then when something is said or done that turns him off, he bolts. Women figures he was just a fling. Guy knows he was truly interested AT FIRST, but then things changed. Best way for a woman to know is to spend more time talking and listening than she does kissing, hugging and sexing. Unfortunately that isn't how most young women operate these days. A woman should NEVER have sex with a man or even fool around much until she is absolutely, positively certain of not only how he feels about her, but how she feels about him. You should be paying very careful attention to how he responds to your questions, whether he is an honorable person, if he lies and plays games with others (you won't be far behind), if he is cold and emotionally distant (you can't change him cause you ain't Dr. Phil), etc. Instead all girls worry about is "does he like me?" I don't get that. He needs to be earning YOUR time and attention and should be more worried about how you feel about him.

He paid attention to details, planned ahead, said he liked me. We messed around (1st time)Friday and now the fact that I have a child suddenly bothers him and he hasn't called me. I got a few texts after yesterday after i initiated the convo.

Did you try asking him? I asked my fwb/gy I was dating before we did anything and he said he liked me, but didn't want a relationship. I thought I could change his min, but apparently not.

Confront him before you end up like me...depressed...waiting on a jerk...

P.S. the sex wasn't even amazing, so why do I still care

Does he make plans with you? Or does he call you kind of last minute? Have you met important people in his life (parents, friends, coworkers?)

The best way to see if you two are an item or just a fling, is something I learned from watching the movie Shopgirl. Call him "sweetheart," and see what he does.

You should also evaluate if this is someone you want a long-term relationship with.

How interested is he in you? How much has he tried to REALLY get to know you? Does he remember facts about you (kids, family, etc)? Does he remember past conversations that you've had? Does he ask how your day went? Does he do things for you without asking?

When a person is interested in a "summer love" or shorter many times they will be as afraid as anyone. Enjoy what is and be emotionally ready to deal with whatever happens.
Too many time we try to predict the future rather than enjoying the present.
Enjoy the now. take effective birth control.

you ask.