You are making me remember my best friend from HS, who was a guy. I had NO idea he was interested in me as anything but a friend. I had dated 2 of his friends, that he introduced me to! Then after one break up, we went out to the movies together, as we often did, but this time he kissed me! Oh man! That was like kissing my brother! I told him very gently not to do that again, that I didn’t think of him that way. We stayed friends and in touch for many years. Went to each other’s weddings etc.
I’m glad you and Beau worked out! Sometimes we have to wait to find our true loves. I have some friends who are in much better places with their second spouse. That’s part of life’s journey.
Similar story here. Mrs. Augie and I dated some in high school. It was fun but she moved away to attend college and we both got on with our lives.
10 years later we met again at our class reunion. Both of us had divorced by then and it was game on.
That was 33 years ago. We've made a very nice life together.