How do I know if I’m just another guy friend to her or someone special?

Hey guys,

I’ve been in a bit of a weird emotional state lately and could really use some perspective. For some context, I was in this one-sided situationship for around 3 years with a girl I really liked. She never really liked me back in that way, and I guess I just held onto hope for way too long.

Recently though, I made a new female friend. She’s sweet, fun to talk to, and honestly, we’ve gotten really close in a short amount of time. But here’s where things get tricky — she’s also close with a lot of other guys. I keep telling myself to stay cool and not read into things, but the more time we spend together, the more I find myself really liking her — like really liking her.

The problem is I’m starting to get possessive and jealous when I see her talking to other guys, and I hate that feeling. She’s told me before that she values friendships a lot and doesn’t want to ruin them, so deep down, I feel like if I confess my feelings, she’ll probably reject me just to preserve the friendship.

But how do I even know if I am just another guy friend to her, or if maybe I do mean something more? Are there any signs I should be looking out for? Or should I just bury these feelings and focus on being a good friend?

Any honest advice would mean a lot. Thanks.