@Lustandconfused It is, of course, perfectly possible to continue a great work friendship even if things don't work out as anything more than a work thing. While I hope it works out for you, I can vouch for the remaining friends thing working well.
In my early 20s I had the hugest of crushes on a guy I saw perhaps 2-3x a month for work, We'd chat like the very best of friends for a good hour or more, and just got on amazingly well. We'd both mildly flirted a bit but nothing came of it. I did decide I'd ask him out at one point but always got thwarted by work colleagues popping up at the wrong moment, he was really knowledgeable everyone knew and respected him and people always sought out his help so we were rarely alone for long! Then one day we had to go together somewhere away from work and he said 'Oh I'm going to the pub straight after we get back, why don't you come too?' Really thought he was asking me out but no, he was just being polite and it turned out, being Mr Popular I didn't get to speak to him really, so I determined to Get Over It, and then in time, as our work situations changed, we naturally saw less of each other for a few years, and really gave him no more thought romantically other than pleased to see each other when we did. Yes colleagues did sometimes comment how we always chit chatted a lot and got on really well, but really nobody could say we were ever an item.
So over the next few years we continued to see each other work-wise at least once or twice a year sometimes more and always got along just as we always did.
Then one day 10 years on we were together at yet another work related thing and chatting away as usual - and he confessed he always liked me and had always thought that as we got on so well we could perhaps make a great couple and asked me out! I was SO shocked and surprised I just said no, I said I thought the moment had passed 10 years ago and whilst I really enjoyed his company I didn't think I really wanted to change anything now. He accepted that, apologised for asking and hoped it wouldn't make work awkward as he valued our friendship just as it was. Neither of us ever mentioned it again, but we both just caried on exactly as before. Nothing changed. St ill pleased to see each other. Still got on, nothing awkward.
Well time has progressed and over 45 years after first meeting despite changing jobs and circumstances, he's a bit older now retired, in the intervening 30 years we'd both married (to others), had kids, etc etc, we've continued as very good friends whenever we see each other, except now we tend to update more on the angst of our kids/ teenagers now young adults, as opposed to work stuff! Sometimes we've gone quite a few years without seeing each other or speaking on the phone although word does get back from time to time via mutual friends of which we have quite a few - we move in different circles but they overlap on the edges, but when/if we do get together we just pick up exactly where we left off, to the extent at an event we bumped into each other last year and chatted for ages, later got seriously quizzed by one of his friends who wouldn't believe we hadn't actually spoken for well over 5 years and wondered who exactly I was and where I'd been hiding! He's definitely remained best friend territory and nothing more - he's always delighted to see me, as I am him, gets on well with the family, is very kind, honest, would always help you if he can, but nothing more.
So it can work to remain as very good friends if not the happy ever after romantic ending we are all hoping for you @Lustandconfused