So I've (23m) been in a FWB type relationship with a woman (41f) for around two years. She was in management at my old job and we immediately became friends. Friendship at work became exchanging phone numbers and doing stuff together on our days off, which led to sex.. It's been fine. The relationship is totally non committal and non exclusive, though we do tell each other about other partners just for advice and because we like talking to each other. Neither of us are jealous by nature so it isn't a problem.

Aside from sex, she's been the most reliable and genuine friend in my life. She tells me what I need to hear even if I don't want to hear it. This is going to sound really bad in this context, but I lost my parents at a young age and never really had an older person I could trust to give solid advice since then. She's my best friend.

However I've started to realize that I might be in love with her. At first I dismissed my feelings outright and told myself she's just a really good friend. I told myself I was reading too much into things. Yet I've started losing interest in other women, it's fine when it happens but I don't feel pulled to have sex with other people anymore. Only her.

I've tried talking to friends for advice and they all tell me it'll never work, I'll just ruin what I have, that she'll be 60 when I'm 40, and so on.

I've dropped some hints to her about it without being explicit and she seemingly picked up on what I was getting at, saying it sounds like I'm wanting to be in a serious relationship with someone.

I know she probably doesn't want to settle down with someone, I know that if she did - it wouldn't be with someone younger than her son, and I know that it'd be an uphill battle even if she was willing.

I just don't know what to do.