I've been casual friends with a man at work for a few years now. Our friendship has never been "serious" or anything other than plationic. We share a love for the same Author and would have a great time discussing his works and other literiture, as well as just having general good conversation and lots of laughs. Our friendship was mostly and in office friendship, although we happened to attend the same company seminars and would sometimes grab something to eat afterwards (sometimes with other coworkers too). Again, all very casual and light hearted. We had eachother's phone numbers, but would only text occasionally (usually about the books we had in common or something funny about work).
I had a serious boyfriend throughout most of my years knowing him, and I assume he had girlfriends. It was never something we talked about, although I would mention "my boyfriend" in conversations that were relevent. There was never an inappropriate conversation or phsyical encounter between us. I genuinely enjoyed his company as a friend and thought he felt the same. Just someone who if I happened to work along side of, we would have a fun time.
This all seemed to change last summer when he started dating his current girlfriend. We were still friends at this time, and we even talked about her briefly. I told him how great I thought it was, that she seemed so sweet, that she was a cute girl etc. After the summer was over, he started getting very distant. I continuted talking to him in a friendly way, to which he started shying away from. He seemed to avoid me and when we talked there wasn't that banter that two old friends have. I took the hint, and backed off. When we run into eachother now it's almost awkward. We're still cordial, but it's like we were never buddies.
I'm confused and a little hurt because I considered him my friend (at least while at work). I could completely understand him cutting me out if our friendship was ever sexual or leading towards a relationship, but it was never even a little bit close to that. We didn't even hang out or talk on a frequent basis outside of work. I'm not devesated or strongly hurt, because I was not attatched to him emotionally in away way, which is why I'm just confused and asking for a 3rd opinion instead of asking him "hey, what happened?". I feel like that's way too much and slightly creepy considering the extent of our friendship. I just miss my buddy at work.
Am I missing something?
Sidenote: I heard through the grapevine that they broke up for a period of time, and during this period he seemed much more comfortable around me. Weird?