How do I play hard to get

So a little backstory I have known this guy since I was a freshman and he was a senior I’m now a senior almost out of high school and he is in the army and we have been talking lately after stopping for a year or so. I think he likes me but he sends a lot of mixed signals and I feel like I’m just chasing after him. I haven’t flirted in a while and I wanna make it obvious but I don’t want to seem like I’m desperate how do I do this? Please help lol. When he Texas me it’s a very short Convo because he has work to do but he sends flirty messages and I just don’t know how to respond. Last night I try to talk to him for a little bit but he kept leaving me on read so I finally stopped and then at like 12 he messaged me and said He was fucked up (drunk) and that I was beautiful the next morning (today) I asked if he remembered anything and he said no that he texted like 6 people some stupid shit after that we where texting for a little bit and he said he’s always really honest when he’s drunk. I feel like he’s playing with my feelings and I don’t want to seem desperate if he does like me so I’m not to sure what to do. Sorry this post was all over the place.