I just had my 5th date with an amazing guy. Were both in our 20s. I’ve never met someone who I have so much in common with. Each date was wonderful, except it always ended with a hug and “drive safe.” After tonight when we watched a movie at my place and he still hadn’t held my hand, put his arm around me , or kissed me, I thought maybe I should ask where he saw us going. After a wonderful night of laughing and just talking for hours, he told me that he is realizing he thought he was ready for a relationship but it turns out he isn’t. He is really into me, but that he can’t reciprocate emotionally. This is all really confusing and shocking because on our first date he was clear he was looking for something serious and mentioned he has focused his early 20s on his career and mental health and that now he is ready to settle down. We flirted, laughed, and had such amazing dates, I really thought I might have finally found something. But then suddenly he is admitting to me that although he “really likes me,” he “isn’t a romantic person and isnt able to express or reciprocate emotions.” I’m just so confused. We just had a wonderful night and the only thing that I felt was off is that we still hadn’t so much as held hands. Could this be asexuality? A trauma response? I’m so lost and just want to give up on this dating thing.