The maybe was an obvious probability (suggestive and compliant), and may have felt rejected by you're hedging your bets after such an obvious IOI, when you then flirted with everyone else and took more than one number from the group. The boyfriend may have put on a brave face but made his opinion of you clear to his circle once you left. Both causing negativity in the group and giving you an uphill struggle when you returned. Don't think I'd plow, would be demanding on state and frame but maybe educational.

PS