He won't bring up exclusivity. How to push without forcing.

He knows what exclusivity is. He's not confused. If he wanted to tell you he's into you and wants to be with only you, he would. The fact that he pivots, gets vague, or changes the subject means he's choosing not to lock it down. That could be fear. That could be hedging his bets. That could be real uncertainty. But it's a choice.

Don't treat it like an oversight. Treat it like information. A good reply acknowledges that the conversation is actually happening, whether he likes it or not.

Don't lead with a question. Lead with a position. Tell him you're at a point where you need to know where things are going. Tell him what you're looking for. Then ask him to respond to that.

This does two things. First, it removes ambiguity about your own intentions. Second, it stops him from giving you a vague non-answer that technically addresses nothing. When you've already said what matters to you, his response has to be about whether he can match that, not about dodging the topic entirely.

Give him at least 24 to 48 hours to reply. Avoidance types sometimes need time to think without feeling cornered. But don't wait weeks for an answer that should take a few days.

If he gives you more avoidance, more vague warmth, or silence, that tells you what you need to know. At that point, you have your answer. You can then decide whether to accept it or move on. Don't loop back into the same conversation three times.