[April Masini, your AskApril]

Dating is a wonderful tool to measure her interest. If you ask her out on a date, she accepts, you go and have a great time and become more affectionate as you get to know her, then you’ll be able to measure the fact that things are going well. If she doesn’t accept your dates then she’s less interested in being with you.

It sounds like your role in the relationship has gotten muddled. When you were dating, things were going well, but it sounds like she’s telling you some things that would give anyone pause — like that she needs space and thinks of you more of a friend. Since she said that to you, it sounds like you’ve talked, but that you haven’t dated.

Again, if you she’s willing to give you a chance by accepting real, traditional dates, which are forums for you to try and win her over, you’re still in the game. If she doesn’t, you’ve struck out and it’s time to find someone new to date!

I hope that helps. Let me know how things go, and please follow me @AskAprilcom on Twitter. 😀