How long until he reaches out after no contact?

A reply after a long gap tells you less than the shape of the silence around it. Look at how the last conversation ended. If it stopped on a question or a plan, the silence probably reflects a lull rather than a decision. If it petered out with short answers or a joke that never got picked up, a re-engagement text is more likely to be an attempt to fill time than a real intent to see you.

Also look at what he wrote. A message that references something specific you talked about carries more interest than a generic "how've you been". A message that is only a greeting, with nothing to answer, is often a test of whether you'll respond at all. Neither version tells you what he wants, so read it as an opening and let the next few exchanges show you the direction.

Respond in a way that matches the energy he brought. If he was light and curious, a light, curious reply works. If he was flat, a short, friendly answer leaves room without pulling him into a heavy conversation about why things went quiet. The aim is to keep the thread alive and give him a reason to keep going, not to settle the question of the gap.

A useful reply usually includes one thing you're actually doing or thinking about, plus a question he can answer easily. Avoid long reflections on the silence, and avoid anything that reads as a reproach. The conversation should feel like it picked up where it left off, even if it didn't.

The time you send and the time you reply both shape how the exchange lands. A late-night re-engagement text from him can feel like a reach for company, while a reply sent the next afternoon feels like someone with a life who is glad to hear from him. If he writes late, you don't need to answer immediately. If he writes midday, answering within a few hours keeps momentum without looking like you were waiting by the phone.

If the conversation picks up, aim for a plan within a few exchanges. Long text threads after a gap can drift into a loop of pleasantries that never turns into a date. Once you've had a couple of back-and-forths and the tone is decent, propose something concrete. If he doesn't engage with a plan after two tries, the silence is telling you more than the texts did.