To everyone asking why he said that; while people might look at them as "just two friends", they've both admitted to being attracted to the other so they're *not* just hanging out as friends-- as such, in the heat of the moment he might've forgotten others might see them as just being friends, and tried to "cover it up" instinctively (because unfortunately, homophobia does exist).
While it's not okay to say that without checking in with the other person first, he was caught off guard, so it's understandable that he said it without thinking. As long as the two of them talk it out this is very minor stuff
To everyone asking why he said that; while people might look at them as "just two friends", they've both admitted to being attracted to the other so they're *not* just hanging out as friends-- as such, in the heat of the moment he might've forgotten others might see them as just being friends, and tried to "cover it up" instinctively (because unfortunately, homophobia does exist).
While it's not okay to say that without checking in with the other person first, he was caught off guard, so it's understandable that he said it without thinking. As long as the two of them talk it out this is very minor stuff