Respond when he's chatty online but quiet in person

Text lets him edit, think, add humor and timing. He controls the pace. In person, none of that works. He has to respond in real time, read your face, match your energy, and worry about awkward silences all at once. Some people are wired this way. It's not fake, it's just easier to be someone when there's a screen buffer.

But here's what matters for your reply. Is he awkward with everyone or just you? If it's just you, he's nervous because you matter. That's fixable. If he's like this with everyone, he's just a text person. That probably isn't.

Your reply should signal that you don't need him to be the same guy from texts. You actually prefer him real. The way to do this is to be specific about what you liked about being together, not what you liked about his performance. Mention something small he did or said in person. Skip the compliments about how funny he is, he knows that from texts. Instead, respond to the real moment you shared.

Then make the next hangout lower stakes. If the first date felt formal, suggest something where you're doing an activity instead of just sitting across from each other talking.

Send your reply within a day of the date, while it still matters but isn't desperate. Then actually wait for him to text back. If he comes back quickly and warmer, he got the signal and felt relieved. If he's still stiff in his reply or takes forever, you have your answer about whether this is nervousness or just how he is.

If he does reply well but then awkwardness shows up again in person, you're dealing with a pattern. One more hangout to test it. After that, either he's improving or he's not. You can't text him into being different in person.