We are a “thing” and he didn’t tell me

So this guy that I’m kinda into has been telling my friend that he likes me and that he wants to try to ask me out but he’s to scared and he doesn’t know if I’m into him or not. I have tried to be flirty over text and tried talking to him but he always is really short and has left me on read a couple of times. Now he’s going around telling people we are a “thing” and that we have been “talking” when we haven’t and the only thing I send him is streaks. We were kinda talking right after New Years and the conversation we really good until now when he’s telling everyone that he likes me and that we are kind of together. Idk why he is being this way any ideas?