I (31F) feel confused and hurt because the guy (28M) I met online seems interested but is pulling back from meeting in person. Am I just overthinking this?

Sorry this is probably a long read.

I (31F) have been talking to a guy (28M) I met through Discord for about a month. I know a month isn’t a very long time, but we have talked consistently, texted every day, had phone calls, and video called. Over that time, I feel like we’ve built a genuine connection and gotten comfortable with each other.

The reason I’m feeling confused is because his actions have made me feel like he sees this as something more than just friendship. He has told me that he likes me a lot, called me “wife material,” told me I’m beautiful/pretty, and has sent me cute relationship reels on Facebook. He has also told his friends and family about me, which made me feel like I was someone important in his life.
We have talked about our differences, our personalities, and getting to know each other more. He has said things that made me feel like he could see potential for something serious. Because of that, I thought the natural next step would be to meet in person.

Now to be clear: I wasn’t expecting us to meet and immediately become official or anything like that. To me, meeting someone in person is just another part of getting to know them. I wanted to grab food, get coffee, or just hang out and see how our connection feels face-to-face because I think you can only learn so much through texting, calls, and video chats.

We have discussed meeting in person prior to this conversation and he seemed excited about it. When I brought up meeting again, his response kinda surprised me. He said:
“I’m sorry, I just wanna meet you when I feel something, you know? Like I like you a lot but when I meet I wanna have more than just friends in my heart. You get what I mean?” Later, he told me that meeting is “nerve-wracking” for him. He explained because he never met anyone from discord in person. For context, we live in the same state (that’s how we started talking) just a few hours away.

I told him I understood where he was coming from because I too have never met anyone from discord in person and that I didn’t want to pressure him. I also told him I didn’t want him to think I was pushing him away because I do still want to talk and continue getting to know him. I just admitted that I felt a little hurt because I was excited about the idea of finally meeting him in person.

The reason I’m struggling is because it felt like mixed signals. On one hand, he has told me sweet things, called me wife material, has told people about me, has relationship-related reels on FB, and seems interested. On the other hand, when meeting became a possibility, it felt like he pulled back and said he needs stronger feelings first.

I do see his side. I understand that meeting someone from online can feel like a big step, and maybe after only a month he doesn’t feel ready. I also don’t want to make him feel pressured or rushed.

At the same time, I’m having a hard time not taking it personally. Part of me feels rejected because I’m thinking, “If you like me and enjoy talking to me, why wouldn’t you want to meet and see where things go?” I know that may not be completely fair, but that’s honestly how it feels. I was even honest about how I felt and explained to him how I felt I was put on the back burner now. His response “I dont want you to feel that way because of me :(“ and has apologized for me feeling that way.

Since this conversation, I’ve been giving him a little space and letting him do his own thing because I’m hurt and trying to process my feelings. I don’t want to punish him or push him away, but I also don’t want to ignore my own feelings.

I’m looking for honest advice:

Am I over analyzing this?

Does this sound like someone who genuinely likes me but is just nervous about meeting?

Is it normal for someone to want stronger feelings before meeting someone they met online?

Should I continue getting to know him and let him set the pace, or should I be more cautious?

Has anyone been in a similar situation where someone seemed very interested online but hesitated when it came to meeting?

I appreciate any perspectives because I don’t want to ignore possible red flags, but I also don’t want to assume the worst if this is just a difference in how we approach things.