[Lovegod]

...and that's why you like him

If you want to find out if there's any future in the both of you, kiss him. There's a good chance he's attracted to you and just has no clue how to break the ice.

[oysterman]

Just ask him...if he is a true friend, he'll admit to how he feels...based on the 'gaze' comment, I bet he has feelings and doesn't want to risk the friendship if he gets rejected (been there, done that, have a collection of t-shirts).

[justnotsurewhereista]

Thanks so much for the advice everyone. I WISH it was as easy as just telling him how I feel. I have had male friends in the past, but never quite this close. I just really don't want to screw up a great friendship by revealing my feelings. TRUE, since we've been friends so long we should be able to talk about it, but if I'm reading way more into the friendship than he's been trying to tell me then I don't see anyway for things to continue on like they are now after I admit my true feelings. If I tell him how I feel and he's not feeling the same way then he's going to, understandably, have to step back and look at the way we interact and there's a good chance that it will change. Does anyone on here have an opposite sex friend that you are very close to with no romantic feelings involved? How does these friendships differ from 'friends' that you have a physical and emotional romantic feeling toward?

[miss_sapphire]

I know how you feel. I was in a similar situation. I didn't want to ask him because I was scared of rejection. I was in limbo for two years. When he finally did say no to me I was gutted, but I got over the initial period of devastation relatively quickly and I'm now on the mend. In hindsight I wish I'd asked sooner because not knowing where I stood was worse than being rejected.

Originally Posted by justnotsurewhereista

If I tell him how I feel and he's not feeling the same way then he's going to, understandably, have to step back and look at the way we interact and there's a good chance that it will change.

If he didn't feel the same way, would you still want to be as close to him as you're now? From my experience, I don't think you can be just friends with someone you have feelings for. In order for the friendship to be successful, you need to be able to put your feelings aside. Until you can do that, it's not a bad idea to keep a distance from him.

[2sunny]

i really think if he was truly interested in dating you - he would have made a solid move way before now.

so my conclusion is - he's not interested, so take it as the friendship it is and leave it at that - or cut him out completely so you have the emotional room for a man that's interested (in a solid way).