How do i get him to know without telling him

there is this guy that i have had a crush on since like 6th grade and we talk on the phone all the time and he jokes around with me and stuff he doesnt have a girlfriend but my best friend has went out with him before she knows i like him but she hasnt really said anything it seems like she doesnt like him anymore and he's also like mending a broken heart from his other ex-girlfriend.....what should i do i want him to know but i really dont want to just straight out tell him...any ideas?

a small gesture would be just to smile in a shy way when he looks at you. flirt with him or something in a playful way cuz if he's mending a broken heart then he might not want something serious again