I met a man this summer who drew me in like a magnet. His energy was so nice and sincere. We struck up a friendship talking and texting as friends for about a month. One day, I blew it. I texted him a photo of myself ( just my face smiling) and he asked me what my intentions were with the photo. Albeit he said it was a nice shot.

The next day I saw him in person and told him I was attracted to him and that my intentions were not purely as friends. He politely said, we should just communicate as friends and that is what he wanted from me, friendship.

I tried to talk to him in the next few weeks with no response.

I let it go for four months, with no communication. Realizing that in fact during this absence of communication, I did not want romantic relations with him at all and I missed his friendship.

Yesterday, I reached out to him to help me with a project. He quickly agreed to help me and spent two hours with me on the project. We had nice easy conversation, nothing more. I felt relaxed and at ease with him and a good kinship.

My question is, is there a chance to be good friends again after whar I said earlier in the year. Knowing I can not take it back, I would love to move forward with a friendship. I am assuming his willingness to help me yesterday with my projet was his way of opening the door a crack, but I do not want to blow it. I do want to know if he wants to be friends but do not know how or when to approach him. He is very shy and reserved so I have to be cautious. Any suggestions on how to move forward would be helpful.
On another note His last words to me yesterday were ” have a good winter”, as I go away from town for five months, and I leave in two weeks. Is that my clue to not speak to him until spring?