breadcrumbing
warning
the one-line answer
Sending just enough attention to keep someone interested without commitment.
Breadcrumbing means leaving small crumbs of attention. Just enough to keep the person following. Not enough to count as actual investment. You are stringing them along.
mainstream
Your coworker might use this word.
01 / in the wild
hear it move.
warning
he texts once a week just enough to keep her interested. breadcrumbing.
He is maintaining just enough contact to keep her interested without actual commitment.