Elsewhere, I told my husband I just wanted to be friends, too. We took a six month training at work, in a group which involved staying in residence hotel sometimes. Often, the group shared dinner together. After the course ended, hubby mentioned that there was no reason we couldn't still have dinner together sometimes, just as friends. I agreed to still have a meal with him, if it was understood we weren't dating. I told him I wasn't looking for anything more. He agreed and said he wasn't, either.
3 months later, he asked me to get married. I said, nah...thanks, but no thanks. I had a good job, and my own home. Didn't need to get married.
He asked me again, same answer...
Third time, I realized I didn't NEED to get married, but I WANTED to!
We celebrated our 6-year anniversary recently.
It's not the end of it all, if she wants to be just friends. That's a nice way to start it, easy, no pressure. Relaxed and growing on each other, or maybe not. Don't stress over the "F" word. Look at hubby and me, he didn't give up, and I'm glad he didn't push it.