@Fastcarfiend
I don't think there's anything dishonest or drama about your post. He was a close male neutral friend. I have several and they are important to me, the same as my girlie friends are. I have an ex who I dated for only 2 months who is one of my closest male friends and he's lovely. He and I ar sporadically in touch sometimes for months we see a lot of each other (1-2x week) sometimes not for a few months with the odd catch up whatsapps. I've known him 8 years and he's very funny.
I had another close male friendship (I was in a relationship he wasnt at the start then he dated) and we were like brother and sister and our kids got on like a house in fire.
He ghosted me after 3 years when one of his relationships went serious. He was like part of our family, got in well with my parents and sis and his girls too (& my kids) we used to go camping together each year and kids would.camo out together in the garden. We cut it down when his relationship was serious but still met up partners invited etc.
Ultimately his gf got jealous and sent me some confusing messages (I think she was drunk) so even though by then we only had BBQs and houseparties /kids playdates when she could come, so she didn't feel.left out, he still suddenly ghosted. His ex wife even texted me to ask why kids didn't see us anymore and I had to say IDK, think it's something to do with gf (of 8 months by then).
It really hurt as was so unneccessary. So I get op's hurt , that's not drama that's suddenly losing an important friend. It'd have been easy to just catch up every now and then, but after his ex-wife kicking up a stink as her kids were upset at not seeing mine (I didn't know ex-wife) he told me his gf thought he shouldn't have female friends as "he had her now".
They've since married. My bf had no problems with him and me nattering in kitchen and kids playing in garden together. It was hard at the time , took me about 6 months to get over, despite having other friends it was a new experience as no girlie friend has ended a great close friendship like that because of a jealous partner.