I am 24 and have been friends with this guy since we were born. Our parents were friends before we were born and his sisters and I are best friends. We all grew up joking that we were cousins and used to go on holiday together. I have never had a boyfriend, probably because I compare everyone to him. He has had one girlfriend. We are both currently single.
We were good friends when we were very young then grew apart a little in the teenage phase and I went through some issues with self confidence and eating problems, which are all cleared up now. Recently we've been hangin out a lot more. I don't live where I am from but I visit regularly through the year. Each time I visit, we meet up, and he asks when I'm back again. We always meet up in the company of others, e.g. our friends, family.We go to gigs with our friends, go out for lunch etc. Lately my friend, him and me were out at the pub and she was after some guy. Then he asked me what I look for a guy. He knows I am looking for a boyfriend and that I see him as my favourite guy friend but he says he doesn't want a girlfriend right now, he wants to focus on finding a job since finishing Uni.
We recently met someone new who asked how we knew eachother and he said we grew up together and we are basically like cousins. I was a bit hurt because I would have just said we are good family friends. We get on so well and he lately has been calling me pet and a few other affectionate names etc, we have a lot in common and he laughs at me a lot and jokes with me. There was recently another guy I was interested in and we were all talking about it and my mates think he looked a bit annoyed, I did notice slight adverse body language. When I am away from home, I contact him and he always writes back but he never initiates the contact, but he doesn't like online chat or text very much and usually rings me to arrange us meeting up rather than replying to my text.
I have liked him for as long as I remember and it just won't go away because I still see him!
Should I tell him? It would be so awkward with the sisters and family if it wasn't returned. Or should I speak to his sister? Should I hint to him rather than tell him? I feel trapped.