To leave the friend zone or not?

[Redruby82]

A good friend of mine for 15 plus years and I have recently become a lot closer. We have always been friends but after me moving closer to him we have been spending a lot more time together. We have always had a little flirt but recently our messages have become quite flirtatious. I have started thinking about him in a different way and I don't know if I should do anything about it or just keep things as they are. We have never both been single at the same time until now. I don't want to ruin our friendship as he has been a great support to me over the years. Guess I'm just wondering if anyone else has been in this situation and what they done about it. I mean he might not even feel the same but I'm getting that vibe at times.

Go for it!!!!

How do you feel about him? You say you think about him in a different way, but unless I'm missing something you don't feel really strongly. I was in a similar-ish situation. My closest friend told me he was in love with me, and I knew I didn't feel as strongly as him, but wanted to give it a chance because on paper we were perfect for each other. It didn't work out, I liked him a lot but didn't fall in love with him. It destroyed our friendship, and if there's something I could go back and change it would be that. I think you need to be prepared to lose the friendship if things don't work out, or at least understand it might not be the same again.

I guess I have always fancied him a bit! I just feel we have become really close on a different level. I really don't want to lose our friendship so maybe I will just sit tight and not chance it.

Do you have a mutual friend that you trust who would be willing to sound him out very subtly on your behalf? As others have said to loose a good friendship is a risk.