I'm a 23-year-old female and I have feelings for my coworker and friend, who is 22 and male.

I (23/F) have been friends with someone we'll call “Jake” (22/M) for about seven months. We both work in the same department and grew closer after a night out where we danced together and he was really attentive. At the time, I interpreted his attention as friendly, since we were just starting to get to know each other. He often asked if I was interested in dating anyone, but I wasn't because I had just moved to town and wanted to focus on settling into my new job. I returned the question, and he mentioned that he had recently gotten out of a relationship and wasn't seeing anyone, although he didn’t clarify if he was looking for anything. After that night, our friendship continued to deepen. Over the next few months, I began to sense that Jake might have romantic feelings for me, as coworkers started to notice our flirtation and closeness. They made jokes about us, which left me perplexed. Eventually, I picked up on signs that he might like me—he gave me frequent compliments, we often found ourselves sitting close together, and he joked about my height by playfully putting his arm over my head. There were also moments when it felt like he was leaning in, making comments that hinted at something beyond friendship. I tried not to overthink things and just enjoyed our friendship. However, after I recently injured myself and struggled to walk properly, Jake showed a thoughtful side by making sure the car seat was pushed all the way back to accommodate me. That gesture struck me as sweet and sparked feelings I didn’t expect to have. But now, I’ve noticed that Jake seems a bit distant. When we talk, there’s an awkward tension, but neither of us brings it up. I can't tell if he feels the shift too, but I definitely do. Sometimes I give him rides, and it can be silent and uncomfortable. I’m feeling confused about how to proceed. I like Jake and value our friendship, but I’m unsure whether to address the changes in our dynamic or give him some space. On one hand, I sense there might be something between us, but on the other, I worry about making things awkward if he isn't interested or never was. Should I talk to Jake about my feelings, risking an awkward situation, or should I wait it out? If I decide to bring it up, what should I say? I don’t think he has any idea how I feel, and I’m uncertain about his feelings towards me.