Men + Women = Friends?

The title of this post is derived from a current situation...

I have a male friend, who I have no sexual feelings for, at all. We chill, laugh, smoke and all that fun stuff. We don't really talk on the phone like that, but we will text one another to make plans to kick it.

Now, when I say chill...that's what I mean. He'll drink, I'll smoke, we'll eat some food, play video games and he'll probably crash on the couch if he doesn't go home...I'll sleep in my bed. ALONE!

He just recently, in our occasional texts, has started calling me 'sexy lady.' While the compliment is appreciated, I know that it was used to let certain feelings be known...without actually expressing them. Next, I was asked to come to his crib...now ladies, this text came at 10:30pm...y'all know what's up. And fellas please don't front, y'all peep.

Bring on the awkward-ness, right? This is suppose to be my homie. I don't wanna have that weird ass conversation, but it needs to happen lest he feel like I'm leading him on and I lose a friend...

Fellas, please don't think that I'm being biased. I DO understand that a lot of times women ignore the initial 'agreement'...feelings get caught like a cold and the setup fizzles out or ends with a quickness because now "it's gotten weird."

Why do these lines get constantly crossed on both sides?

I feel that more often than not, man/woman friendships start from a failed relationship attempt. In this scenario, mixed feelings are understandable if 'ground rules' are not initially set up for the two of you. If there WAS an agreement, be it friends with benefits or just friends, it needs to be honored. If feelings are developed...people try to NICELY, SMOOTHLY explain yourself in a non-pressure, 'just lettin' it be known' kind of way. Leaving both parties with open options.