I can’t stress this enough:

You HAVE to do it.

Best case scenario, you get what you want. Worst case, you still feel great about yourself for having let this weight off your chest and being honest with yourself and her. And if she is your good friend, she’ll understand, and your friendship will remain alive and well.

If you don’t ask her, it’ll weigh on you for years. Your head will forever circle back to “yeah, but what if?”

This is a lesson everyone has to learn if they mean to develop any relationship. I wish I learned it earlier than I did. Don’t be like me. Learn it before you stack a heap of regrets.

Ask her out.