I know that I'm making a lot of excuses for him. I'm trying to rationalize what he's doing, and - sometimes - that just can't be done. You cannot rationalize the irrational, as one of my professors used to say... He had her over at his place; he lives at one of the stations at the squad I volunteer for, and I frequently pull long shifts there; I was on shift that night. He's my best friend, and I get a lot of emotional and mental support for him. And I need the physical closeness, and he provides that, as well.
I did talk to him about things yesterday. He said he did not want to be in a "friends with somewhat benefits" (i.e., cuddling and kissing) relationship... He is still fine with cuddling, but - apparently - kissing is out. He is not in a relationship with the other girl. He does not "like-like" her. Yet, he will not say that he doesn't still "like-like" me. This is what I can get out of it...
He is not ready for a relationship.
He still likes me, but - as I put above - he does not want a relationship.
He knows that kissing is more of a relationship thing to me, and he does not want to encourage something that he does not want; that would be unfair to me.
Does any of this make sense to you all?