Can I be friends with someone I asked out?

[stuckgirl]

I have a guy friend who I've been hanging out with for a few months. We both like being around each other and I would really like to ask him on a date but there is an age gap and I don't know if he'd consider dating me (he's 20 years older). I know if I ask him out for supper he would probably say yes and assume it is just as friends. I could make it clear that I want it to be a date, but then I'm worried that if he says no we won't be able to hang out anymore as friends. If he's not into me I still really want to be his friend.

Guys - if a girl you are friends with asks you out and you're not interested, would it spoil the friendship?

[Hooo!]

You don’t have a friendship
Friends don’t lie to each othersnd don’t keep suchs things as a secret

[stuckgirl]

You don’t have a friendship
Friends don’t lie to each othersnd don’t keep suchs things as a secret

We do have a friendship, but it is still new and so I don't know how he would take hearing that I have fallen for him. Are you saying that in order to be a good friend I need to tell him how I feel? I certainly can do that. I just don't want to make him uncomfortable if he's not into me.

[subchief96]

Of course not, it would not spoil the friendship.