Is this piecing?

[flowmom]

I did the pursuey thing for many months at first - I do fear rejection and pumping up his ego.

I agree with rr...ONE invitation isn't pursuey. Especially because you are GAL. I started skimming parts of AoS and seduction is about giving MIXED signals...you can't just be pulling away/self-protective all the time in piecing. You are pulling away in some areas, so it's okay to initiate a date on YOUR terms (agree with rr on the timing relative to MC). Make it clear in how you invite him that it's about pleasure and fun, not heavy stuff. Maybe even a date where there would obviously be a focus OTHER than talking, like drinks while catching a jazz band (or whatever equivalent that you would both enjoy).

At this point you inviting him to something fun would be a 180, right? So try it then monitor the 48 hours after very carefully. And have a self-care/face-saving plan in place if he says no (like setting up in advance a back-up friend to go with anyway).

And his ego being pumped up is GOOD, as long as he is treating you well.