Sudden silence from my (26F) buddy’s friend (32M)

My friend’s buddy (32M) asked me out a couple days ago, after texting me(26F) for three weeks. We met, everything seemed nice and I was genuinely happy about the connection, thinking I had finally met someone who values more than just the physical stuff, with us both being religious. He paid once, I paid after. Overall it left a very good impression on me.

After the date he was silent, so I texted him, thanking him for the beautiful afternoon and evening we spent together and expressing that I’d like to see him again. He said it was nice and we were texting for two more days with some sudden 6hr gaps from him (he was on his phone during the date quite often) and then he was suddenly dry and ignored me. I double texted him, to show I was interested, and then we were texting again.

It was a bit strange because he was both dry, rudish, but also flirting, and in that notion I had expressed that I am a woman who needs patience, and he jokingly (adding funny metaphors) said he would wait but then only “liked my messages” and since then he hasn’t texted me again.

It’s been three days and the sudden silence is quite strange and idk how to feel about it. I do not want to bother him, but I felt quite hopeful and don’t want to lose the connection entirely, if not for the fact that I genuinely like him, for the reason that we may be seeing each other again. But since I was the one texting him after the date I thought he wasn’t interested anymore and should let it be.

What could the reason be? Could a dinner invitation from me ruin this any more?

TL;DR Sudden silence after three weeks of texting and a date.