[Ah. It's a fair question, but a bit of a sore subject at the same time.]

That's not an easy question to answer. It can vary from person to person. As long as you're open and communicate what you want, that should be enough, but... you should probably set boundaries beforehand. So they know whether you're just interested in being friends, or-- something more.

[He pulls back from the hug now, looking a bit sheepish.]

I've had a few... friendships where it wasn't very clear what we were. And even now, I don't really know how to describe what we had. But I also know some people who are in relationships, but are still open to being intimate or even going on dates with others. So I think it all just comes down to what you're looking for.