Is my best friend in love with me or just using me as a placeholder?

So me and this guy have been like best friends for almost 2 years… we have all the same nerdy interests, so much in our life mirrors and we started all of this not too long after he was in a 6 year long relationship with the mother of his child.. at first things where more sexual with the texting and it took over a year for us to finally have sex his choice and he made it really special. But he says we are just friends and he doesn’t see us compatible in a relationship. He says that but he still gets really sexual with me and we talk about everything and he tells me he tells me more than he tells anyone. Is it because he is not fully healed? Or does he genuinely feel we are not compatible and it’s never going anywhere and I’m just a place holder? He is in his late 40s, not a player by any means. We can talk about anything and everything and we have all the same interests. he's given me really thoughtful gifts. I’m just so confused. I’m so in love with him and I just feel like there’s a reason I still hold on.

Is my best friend in love with me or just using me as a placeholder?
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