My relationship with my ex has gotten to a point where we’re practically dating again, just not romantically. We spend a lot of time together and just last night, I stayed over at his place for the night. We even slept together in the literal sense and nothing more. We didn’t have sex, but we still got fairly intimate. We were watching a show and ended up laying together on the couch where we both fell asleep. I felt bad at first for what might’ve been an imposition on my part, but he did not mind in the least. He said if I find myself over at his place again late at night, I could stay with him anytime.

I extended the same offer to him to stay with me whenever he wants. I’ve told him before, when he’d stay late at my place, that I didn’t like him driving half an hour back to his home late at night and he could stay if he wanted. He turned the offer down, saying he didn’t want to impose, but now it’s only fair. Plus, I wouldn’t have minded if he did at all. I’m currently without a roommate, so it’s not like he would be imposing on anyone else too. After our talk about it, it’s sounding like sleeping over at each other’s places could become a regular thing for us.

I keep expecting him to make some sexual advances on me, but he hasn’t. He seems to understand full well that I have no romantic or sexual interest in our relationship and is respecting that. I know his attraction to me is very much there, though. Earlier this week, he was sweet enough to surprise me early in the morning with coffee. He showed up while I was wearing a revealing outfit I don’t normally wear out. He got tongue-tied the moment he saw me after I opened the door. I thought it might’ve been one of my female neighbors. Had I known it was him, I would’ve covered up just for the sake of modesty. But we were both able to play it off.

He’s also engaged in some borderline flirtatious affection with me. He’s very cautious for how he goes about it too, asking if he may do something before doing it. I really don’t mind it coming from him, so I tell him he may and I very much enjoy it. His touching and caressing makes me feel relaxed. I can tell he likes it too, even if it does turn him on a little. This hasn’t been outright said or addressed, but he’s not doing things like roaming with his hands on my back and sides just for a bit of harmless affection. I’m letting him get away with a lot and you’d think maybe he’d be tempted to push his luck even further. If he has, that’s not been made clear because he hasn’t at all. In a manner of speaking, he sticks to the territory granted to him and never once strays out of bounds.

We’re not officially dating, at least not in any romantic sense, but at the same time, we’re very much in an intimate relationship that transcends any normal friendly relationship. But I think I speak for both of us when I say we’re happy. I most definitely am. I feel this is exactly what I need - a relationship with most of the affection but without the romantic commitments. I know he’s not going to say no to being able to get touchy-feely with a woman he used to date and still finds attractive, so it works out for both of us. If any feelings get involved or it’s otherwise at risk of turning into something more, which could very well be inevitable, we’ll worry about it then. For now, we’re in a good place.

Hope springs eternal in the human breast! I think he really likes you.

He does. But the subject of him finding a romantic partner has come up. I’ve encouraged him to find one should he desire that kind of companionship (because he’s still not going to find one in me). I’ll be happy for him if he does, but I’m sure I will also be lamenting the loss of his touch. That wouldn’t sit well with any new girlfriend he gets, naturally.

"That wouldn’t sit well with any new girlfriend he gets, naturally."

Nooooooot hardly.