Here's the Perfect Text Response to Anyone Who's Giving You Mixed Signals

I don't claim to know it all when it comes to relationships, but I do know (i.e. have learned the hard way) when it's time to lay down the law and figure out WTF is going on. Case in point: I spotted this super-cute guy and slyly gave him my card with my cell number written on it. ​Cut to him texting me later that night to meet for coffee that Friday.

We met, he seemed great, we talked about heading out in public the next time for a drink, which never ended up happening. But what did happen is that he asked me to coffee two more times, and then asked me to grab a smoothie with him a few weeks later, which I had to decline because I was at an event. At this point, with all of the past coffee invites and talk of possibly getting a drink that didn't contain caffeine, I was pretty sure he'd ask me to dinner sooner or later. But he never did. He just kept asking me on ultra-casual coffee "dates."

Long story short, I wasn't sure if this guy wanted a pal (I don't need any more guy friends, but thanks!) or if he was into me and was just that busy that he couldn't go for a drink. Turns out it was the former and I found this out by being bold and just asking. I thought I made it clear that I wasn't looking for another guy friend (by meeting him for all of these "dates"), I felt like I had to be 110 percent clear on why I couldn't just hang out. So I said this to make sure there wasn't any gray area:

He never wrote back. Boom. There you have it: The response that renders the other party speechless, allows you to say what you need to say, and lets you leave the conversation feeling empowered with your head held high. Well, at least that's how I felt.