Well im new to the PUA world aswel but IMO your worrying to much. If you want to be a PUA you have to pretty much destroy who you were from the sound of things.
It's not to late either imo, cuz even though im no pro PUA hugging girls is easy

. All you need to do is just do it at a good time, like after she tells you a sad story just hug her and say, ahh you poor girl (in a playfull tone.) this wil probably make her give you a gentle slap, or a shy remark and you can work from there?
Or you can just walk up to a random girl you know, hug her for no good reason, and say something like. Wou you do feel fluffy your ex was right, or say: i jsut felt like doing that... a million examples.
Hope im giving you good advice but keep in mind im no PUA

not yet anyway!
Kind Regards,
Mikhail