My guy friend's been a little weird lately, why?

So my best friend, who's a guy, is always a little on the dark side, morbid, loves poetry, songwriting, and books, and moonlights as a writer, but he's always been that way. Lately, he's been a lot cheerier and genuinely interested in what people have to say instead of cynical and morose. He always sits a little closer to me and touches my leg or hand or shoulder whenever he can, smiles a lot, and would listen to me drone on and on for hours about something completely pointless. Actually, this one time, I called him and I was a blubbering mess and he rushed over and let me lean on his shoulder and cry almost half the night away. Does he... like me? That would be an odd twist in our friendship. I've asked him before, but he's denied it as though he's hiding a secret. So do you think he does?