Guy advice: Long story?

I am half Italian, and every summer I go to Italy to visit my dad's family. Three summers ago, my cousin introduced me to a lot of her guy friends, and I developed a crush on one of the guys. We hung out a lot, but nothing ever happened because he is shy, and so am I. He bought me a really beautiful bracelet as a souvenir to remember him by. Summer 2008 I visited Italy again, and I only got to see him once because he was out of town a lot since it is their summer too, and I was all over Italy, not just in his city. I hadn't gone on MSN in a few months, but I went on yesterday and he was online and we chatted. He was saying how he regrets not being able to spend as much time with me as he wanted, and he wishes I could be there now because the city festival/carnival is this week. He said next time in the summer when I'm in town he hopes we're able to hang out more and he wants to take me to the beach, etc. etc. Then he said, "I hope you don't get mad, but there's something I want to tell you. I've had a strong desire to kiss you for a really long time." He said he can't wait until I'm back in town June 2009. We're both single, but we both agree a long-distance relationship isn't possible. I am 22, and he's 28. I have never dealt with a guy who's more than 3 years older, so I don't know if he meant what he said, or if he was just messing with me.