Met a guy on Grindr, had a great night, now he’s pulling away but still keeping the door open?

I met a guy on Grindr. He was using a private/anonymous account from the start. We talked for a short time, met up, and ended up spending a night together. (All in 1 day)

The experience felt genuine to me — we had good chemistry, good conversation, and I thought there was at least some level of real connection. I don’t take these things lightly, so I found myself paying close attention to him and being quite present in the moment.

I was quite eager to meet again soon, which may have made him feel pressured. I’ll also be honest that I got a bit curious/insecure and reached out to someone he follows to ask about him. Looking back, that may have crossed a boundary, and I think there’s a chance he found out about it.

We initially had a second date planned for Sunday, but he ended up cancelling.

The next day, things started to feel off. He unfollowed me and didn’t let me follow him anymore, but still replied to messages. When I asked about meeting again, he avoided setting a clear plan and said he thinks we should just be friends, and that he doesn’t want anything deeper right now.

Later, he also said it’s better not to meet again for now, so I don’t “waste time or overthink.”

Instead of pushing further, I told him gently that if he ever feels ready to meet again, he can let me know. He reacted to that message with a heart and said yes.

My questions:

• 1/ Is there a real chance we might meet again as friends, or is that just a polite way of rejecting me?
• 2/ What should I do in the next 1–2 weeks if I genuinely want to see him again? Should I reach out, or just give him space?

Appreciate any honest perspectives.