Does he like me or not?

I have been talking to this guy since my high school days. For a while back then we stop talking because life took us in different directions. He randomly texted me out of the blue couple years after high school. We spend a lot of time talking through text and it's been a while since I have last seen him in person. I admit we tend to flirt on and off. He told me at one point he would clap my cheeks and quite honestly I would let him 👀. However sometimes I feel skeptical. Like is he telling me this because he is just having fun or do you think he actually likes me. I asked him a while ago if he likes me and he said of course but idk I feel it was more like I like you as a person response. Not the I like like you. I think he has a thing for me because I have guy friends and we speak different to each other. I feel with this particular dude we crossed that friend boundary. I think I know the response to my own question but idk I'm curious as to what other ladies think. Is this a common things with guys? Or am I just overthinking the whole situation?