He says he's interested but keeps dodging plans: what to do

He's saying yes to the idea of meeting but not to a time, and that's the whole pattern. Look at how he describes the delay. 'Slammed till the weekend' and 'it's been crazy' are reasons, but reasons repeated across weeks start to look like a habit. Notice whether he ever suggests a specific day himself. If the most concrete thing he's offered is 'soon,' he's keeping the option open without committing to it.

Also check the energy of the chat itself. Does he ask you questions back, remember things you said, and keep the conversation going? Then the interest is probably real and the scheduling is the weak spot. If the messages are short, he replies hours later, and the 'hey how's your week' check-ins show up only when nothing else is happening, the interest may be more casual than he's letting on. Neither reading is a verdict. They just tell you what kind of reply to send next.

The move here is to swap the open invitation for a narrow one. Pick a day and a rough time, name a concrete activity or place, and make it easy to accept or decline in one word. You're shrinking his decision down to a yes or no. People who want to meet will usually take a specific offer or counter with a specific alternative. People who are stalling will give you another vague line, and that tells you what you needed to know.

Keep the message short and warm, and leave out any guilt or pressure about how long it's been. Don't justify the ask at length or apologize for wanting to see him. The reply should also make the next step easy, so you aren't negotiating every detail over three more texts. If he says yes, lock in the time and confirm it the day before. If he counters, take his alternative if it's real, and suggest the next step.

After you send the specific ask, give him a fair window to respond, usually a day or two. Don't send a follow-up that same evening, and don't check whether he's read it. A second message in one day reads as anxious and gives him a reason to delay more. If he answers with a real plan, reply promptly and warmly and close the loop.

If he doesn't answer, or replies with another vague line, send one short follow-up at most, and keep it lighter, not sharper. Something that notes the plan is still open and leaves the door clear is enough. If that also goes unanswered, or he keeps moving the goalposts after a specific ask, stop initiating. Don't keep checking in with 'hey, how's your week.' Interest without action is information, and you don't owe anyone more chances to act on it. Let the chat fade and put your attention on people who make plans.