Does he like me or am I uming something different?

I have a friend who invited me to one of her family get together and I met her cousin. He is three years older than me and I find him quite good looking. He lives a couple hours away from us so I rarely get to see him. When I do, we never talk. We only text and msn each other. even when we are in the same house, we will text each other and say that they look good today and stuff. I just don't understand why we never talk in person.Even when he is back at home, we have these huge flirty conversation that would last two days on and off. My friend says that we would look good together as a couple but since we live so far away from each other it's out of the question. My friend always encourages me to talk to him but I find that there isn't anything to say to him.. but through texting we have a lot to say. Is he shy? or does he just not want to talk to me in person? Next time I will be seeing him will be around boxing day, how can I talk to him? and what can I say? or how can I make him talk to me? I am so confused I have no idea. My brain is flustered. Can someone give me any advice?