I really like him

So last night I went out with my two friends along with a guy that I really liked. steve he and I been going out on “dates” the past few weeks or more (he called them dates) and I decided to tell him last night that I liked him and I wanted to know if I had a chance to be with him. he said he doesn’t want a girlfriend right now. so i’m sad that he rejected me and mad at myself because I thought he liked me. my best friends think is he lead me on and I just can’t see him doing that.