Wtf does this mean?

Can you really be working on things with someone and actively saying that you’re single? How does this work? We were together for 2 years, and known each other for 3. We have 1 child together. Been broken up since October, because he was flirting with another female. We been messing without each other the whole time we’ve been broken up. Now, he’s starting to come around more saying he wants to be back together and etc but he makes it clear that he’s single. He tells me that I shouldn’t be asking him about what he’s doing and who he’s doing it with, which I understand because you’re single. BUT, if we’re working on things then.....