Light hearted texts could be interpreted as general friendship conversation. As others have said. What do his actions tell you?
Sometimes we need to accept that what we want and what others want don't line up. It sounds to me like you two may not be on the same page in the same book. He seems to be in the how to play mind games and string people along with emotional manipulation book. You seem to be in the I'll settle for anything as long as I can call him my boyfriend book.