Situationship with my Best Friend?

[Anonymous]

I have known this guy and been Best Friends with him for 25 years.
I have seen him get Married and have his first child. I have also seen him get divorced to said Wife. (Divorced now, 7 years ago.)
About 12 months ago, we somehow managed to get ourselves into a Situationship.
I recently told him that I don't think that it's a good idea that we continue as it is causing too much heartache for the both of us and it is ruining our friendship. (He on occasions kept calling me his Ex Wife's name and told me that I remind him of her and some of the things she did. He did also admit to me that he still loves her.)
I told him that I am happy to remain friends with him and he said he is okay with that, despite having feelings for me. I started to then back away from the situation.
He of late keeps randomly texting me and telling me that he doesn't want to lose me, and I established that it's because he's worried that I will find someone else.
This morning, he sent me a message telling me that he loves me and that he wants to be with me and that not being with me, stresses him out.
I then asked him if it only stresses him not being with me because he's worried that I will find someone else and he replied back with, "Nope. I love you."
Please forgive my naivety, but I'm really unsure what to think about all of this? Anyone have any advice?

[Mollynotgemma]

No one can truly know what anyone really thinks... but I do believe he loves you... but he’s loved you for so long and he could have been with you earlier if he truly wanted to be! I hate saying a phrase for something but he... wants his cake and he wants to eat it! Whilst he loves you... he won’t commit to you... his fear is he wants to be able to have you at his beckon call always...
I may be wrong... but true love prevails and if it’s genuine he’ll be with you...
I think whilst he loves you... and you love him... you both have that love that is destroyed as soon as you are together!
I think you both accept the fact that your love is perfect as it is! You need to find someone that loves you for you... not the love this guy has for you which is possessive and unforgiving!!
Your love is the love that when either of you are in a relationship you want each other so much... yet if both single! You wouldn’t know what to do!

[xxJadyxx]

I think he does have true feelings developing for you, I mean how can you be best friends without some attachment involved. But he may also need some time to move on from his ex wife or he could go running back to her if she gave him the call. If you really want to be with him I would say give it a try, life is short anyways. But if he is too hung up on his ex wife then it’s best to stay friends.

[Asker]

Thanks so much for your reply. Unfortunately I have tried to give things with him a go and 1, I feel he's too hung up on his ex. I have discussed it with him and he says he's not but he's only fooling himself. And 2. I have worked out that he's not the right guy for me.
I have made my intentions clear but it's just like he won't take no for an answer.