What does it mean when your guy best friend says he cares about you a lot?

Anonymous
My guy friend told me that I can call him whenever and he’ll always make time for me whenever then followed up saying that he cares about me a lot. I’m not sure how to take that likewise because me and him have a history but he has a rule not to date friends.. but we’ve both liked each other. So to me I’m not sure what he means because he goes through periods where he pulls away then comes back and whenever we talk he says I love you, so really what does it mean when a guy friend says he care about you a lot.
What does it mean when your guy best friend says he cares about you a lot?
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