If He Wanted To Spend Time With Me, Would He Have Asked?

I ran into my friend with benefits tonight but he didn't seem as interested in me like I thought and it’s been sitting weird with me.

I had a work dinner tonight. I had told him last night while we were naked cuddling in his bed that my supervisor was taking us out to a specific restaurant. My coworker picked me up and we arrived to the restaurant at 6p...an hour later across the room sitting at the bar with his back to me I noticed my FWB was sitting there. IDK how long he had been there.

I texted him jokingly “Couldn’t resist being around me?” and he immediately checked his phone, turned around, smiled, and blew me a kiss at me! I waved back and smiled. He texted that talking about the place last night convinced him to want to go there too for dinner tonight.

That moment felt really warm and intentional.

I shifted my attention to my work dinner but we kept texting. I asked how his food was and he said it was good. Then later around 9pm, I texted him that I’d be heading home soon. I saw him check his phone, it said read but this time he didn’t respond, didn’t turn around, nothing.

What’s messing with me is the contrast. He was sweet and engaged at first, but then completely disengaged.

Part of me feels like… if he actually wanted to see me after my dinner was over he would have just asked me to come sit with him at the bar, or at least messaged me back? Another part of me wonders if I should have been more direct and asked him if he wanted company.

I know this is just a FWB situation, so I’m trying to stay realistic (not clingy) but am I overthinking this? Is he playing games? We have already talked and we both do not want to date each other.

Question: if he wanted to spend time with me...he would have texted me back...why was he hot then cold?? Not a coincidence he was there but is this him playing with my feelings?