Slow to respond... plans fall through, moody when you ask for what you normally do? If this sounds like what you are going through I’ve got something to tell you, there’s another man in her life.
Women are subtle and although they may keep a few men on reserve, if they are really interested in someone all those prior to that point will feel it in some way or fashion.
In modern times it is very common for women who are very much off the market to advertise themselves as being single or not explicitly say they aren’t for a number of reasons.
It makes them more attractive
It makes them more money
It gives them more freedom
It gives them more privacy
It gives them more power
For men who happen to come across taken, engaged, or even married women who show no evidence of their relationship status on social media or in-person here are tell tale signs of someone who is off the market.
Intellectual signs
Lack of thoughtfulness - missed birthdays? No text back after a few days? Noticeable decrease or absence of social media views and likes? If you haven’t changed your behavior and these things are happening, it is more than likely that circumstances of the relationship variety have changed.
Lack of assistance - in general, if you are good friends with a woman (who may or may not be interested, but is single) and you ask them for a favor, you can usually count on the support. Coming out to an event or proofreading something were easy asks at a point, but if you notice them being harder and harder to come by it’s more than likely that another man has become the priority.
Lack of follow-up - sometimes they initiate a hang-out or project, but flake out last minute or never share the details so it ends up not happening - they aren’t intentionally being rude they are just preoccupied. Take note and step back.
Physical Signs
There’s a noticeable change in touches and embraces. A few weeks ago she literally jumped in your arms, but today you had to ask for a hug. Don’t ask for it again, because things have changed since then.
She won’t let you kiss her on the lips. Some of these women will go as far as sleeping with another man, but the intimacy of kissing is where many will draw the line. It may seem backward, but if you notice that you are able to kiss almost anywhere but her lips chances are her heart is somewhere else.
Emotional Signs
Women are natural sharers and if you feel as if they have withdrawn and no longer confide in you as they used to, chances are there is another man that has taken on those duties.
How to Move
When you encounter these symptoms of off-the-market-itis cease all romantic gestures, gifts, and invitations. There are only three options available to you if you continue:
You get financially exploited
You get blocked or ghosted
You get side-dude status
None of these are the way of the top tier, so the best way to move forward is shifting from a platonic relationship and moving to a professional one if possible. If it’s not about business, there shouldn’t be much communication because she already has a boyfriend for everything else.
As men, we understand that although there are many fish in the sea, and we cannot have all of the fish in it. Do not welcome these signs with angry, obsessive, or jealous behavior because this is the natural cycle of things.
For women that you were particularly close and intimate with, it can be very painful to come to this conclusion, but it’s important that you set the new tone before she is forced to. Take my advice, the decisive observer’s heart always heals quicker than that of the opportunist or the oblivious. Keep shopping my friends.