Are you More Than Just a Friend?

Relationships can be hard to navigate, especially friendships between men and women. While it's possible to be platonic, more often there's a Harry and Sally scenario, where one or the other is secretly harboring a crush.

While Hollywood likes neat happy endings when it comes to friendship that ends in love, that's not usually the case in real life. It's hard to put yourself out there when you could get rejected. And it's difficult to express your true feelings because you don't want to jeopardize the friendship. But still, what if your attraction keeps growing and you wonder if she feels the same? This can cause all kinds of self-doubt and complications to your friendship.

If you're wondering whether or not to make a move on your gal pal, following are some questions to take into consideration to see if you have a real shot at love:

Does she avoid physical contact? If a woman is interested/ attracted, she likes to feel connected through small physical gestures, like touching your arm or sitting close enough so your legs touch. If she's going out of her way to not make any physical contact with you, chances are she doesn't see your friendship as anything more than that - friendship.

Does she tell you about her dates? Whether she comes crying to you after every bad date, or likes to tell you about her latest crush or even ask advice about what a date might be thinking, she's looking at you as a friend. When someone is interested in you, they don't talk about their dates.

Does she invite her other friends along? You've asked her out to dinner or for drinks, and inevitably she brings along a couple of friends to join you. If she's avoiding going out alone with you, chances are she's drawing boundaries so that you know she only thinks of you as a friend.

Does she avoid intimate conversations? She likes to keep things light. Every time you want to bring up the subject of your attraction, she makes an excuse and changes the subject, or leaves to make a phone call. Whatever the excuse is, she doesn't want to have the conversation because she doesn't want to risk hurting you.

Regardless of the tactics, pay attention to what her actions and body language are telling you. Some people flirt, but this isn't an indication that she's interested and you should make a move. But if you want to know once and for all where she stands and you're willing to risk the friendship, then go for it and tell her. Honesty is a great policy when it comes to any relationship - just be prepared that things might not go as you'd like. But she also might surprise you.