Well I hoped you could but I'm not so sure..I liked a colleague at work nearly 2 years ago, we were good friends who talked almost every day and hung outside of work too. People told me he liked me but I guess i got the wrong idea.
When I tried to suggest a date he seemed to panic and try to ghost me, then completely changed towards me.
Eventually a conversation came about and he said it was because we worked together, I spent a bit of time ruminating over it then moved on, started to like other people and eventually realised I didn't know what id seen in him.
Have been with my amazing boyfriend for around a year now. I still work with the colleague but in different departments now, and I became good friends with another colleague who works closely with him. I'm happy to be friends with the colleague, all that was a very long time ago and no hard feelings at all.
He doesn't want to, he hasn't said this but I can tell. He's polite if I see him in person and suggested I drop him a message. I did and he couldn't wait to end the conversation quickly enough, so I know it was just pleasantries.
There's no friendship whatsoever, it's life I guess and fortunately I've met new friends since, just think it's a shame he needs to distance himself even years later, he knows I am with someone too now.