Steve, I hear ya about wanting to say good things to someone you like. I am this way too. I like telling people how I feel, and have been really resistant to playing this “game” with holding back, being a little reserved at times, etc. However, my experiences just in the last couple of months have taught me that as much as I hate it, the whole dating thing really is a game. But it doesn’t have to be a bad one!! It’s just better not to lay all your cards out on the table right away (too many compliments, future-talk, etc.). For whatever reason, when someone knows they’ve got the other person’s feelings in the bag from the get go, they start to lose interest. They don’t have to try anymore. You know?