The only way that you will “lose” anything by giving in to your feelings is if he’s not into you or if you find out you’re not into him seconds after something happens. When people say “I don’t want to ruin our friendship,” what they’re really saying is, “I’m not attracted to you.”

A relationship is just the natural evolution of a friendship. If someone doesn’t want to take it there, it’s not the irrational fear that you won’t be friends, it’s the knowledge that turning the friendship into something romantic is going to be something that immediately goes sour.

If you’re both interested, there’s no reason not to pursue this. It’ll be worth it, and it’ll be just like your regular, normal friendship, without all that pesky longing and built up tension.