Was this a friend-zone comment?

[Anonymous]

I was talking about relationships with one of my absolute best guy friends. He was upset with how my last ex treated me and told me real men don't do stuff like that. I said that I hoped for my next relationship, I DID actually get a real man who would treat me right. He then told me he hoped I found my prince charming because I was amazing and deserved it. I told him he was amazing and deserved the same love. He just said he appreciated the comment.

He has been flirty with me before. He's hugged me several times (always very close/tight and long), he comments on my scent/perfume all the time (like every time we see each other), he has actually told me I'm girlfriend material, he has called me beautiful/pretty/cute several times, he has told me he likes me/cares about me, etc.

Based on all this, does that comment about my prince charming mean he likes me and wants to be "that" guy, or that he is strictly friend zoning me?

[Hobbert]

Sounds like he definitely wants to be that guy. You are friend-zoning him.

Give him a chance.

[Asker]

I would actually love to! I have been flirty back whenever he is flirty. I hug tight and linger like he does. I call him handsome, I stare back at him, I let him see me check him out, I remind him that he is absolutely amazing all the time and that he deserves the world. I try my best to let him know I'm into him. He is bad with expressing feelings and he is also really bad at determining when a girl is flirting (he said that himself and said others typically have to point it out to him). I try to be gentle with it because I don't want to be pushy. He hates when he feels pushed or forced into something. I don't want him to feel like I'm trying to force a relationship onto him or something.

[Asker]

When he said he liked me/cared about me, I told him I felt the same exact way and really liked him a lot and cared deeply for him. I try to make it obvious I want him and would give him a chance at being more than friends if he'd want that too. I just don't want to seem forceful or make him feel like I'm trying to pressure him into a relationship.

[Asker]

He just told me I'm amazing again and said I have my stuff together and that he can't wait to see what I'd do for the right guy. Again, I am feeling like he is trying to friend-zone me because he keeps talking about what I'd do for the right guy. He isn't saying HE wants to be that guy for me. He isn't asking for a chance to BE that guy. I'd love to try being more than friends. I think we would go well together. I already feel safe and comfortable with him. We trust each other. His hugs are some of my favorite to receive.

[Asker]

I had told him a girl would be the luckiest girl in the world to have a man like him. He said he appreciated, I said I meant every word and he said good then said all that about how he can't wait to see what I'd do for the right guy.

[Hobbert]

Ask him out, take a stroll to a park, walk side by side and brush your hand against his hand.
If he reciprocate then hold his hand.