More advice please - How do you get a guy to open up to you?

I have this friend and we're great together, we play, we laugh all the time, we talk about everything and anything, we have a great time when we're together and we miss each other when we're not but we have one major issue.....we just can't seem to open up and admit our feelings to each other and be together.
How do we get past this major obstacle? It's like having an 800 pound elephant in the room when we're out with other people since they see love.
The other night we both went out with different sets of friends and my friend and I spent the entire night texting each other from different clubs. My friends finally had it and said just go be with your friend already, but that didn't work out so the texting continued until almost 6am.....lol.
A few of us met for breakfast the next morning and when we left my friend was hugging me and kissing me telling me over and over that he loves me and I was doing the same to him and all my friends just roll their eyes and call me stupid

I forgot, we are both guys and I am 37 and he's 28 so do you think that's an issue for us? We've played a round a bit and gotten each other off orally but I'm just confused and don't know what to do but I do know I love him very much.
Thanks for your help!!!!!

i got an idea. First, you can describe a "story" which is simulated as the situation you're in right now. And, then, you ask him if he's the guy this person (you) is after, what will he do.

When you're describing this stuff to him, see his reactions. See if he's reacting to your story as if he's the one you're describing. If he's really being positive about that, you should pull all your courage together, and set up a serious situation like inviting him for a date or sth. And, say the three powerful words..You know what they are!

Ok, hope it cand be useful. Good luck!

Sounds like you're both avoiding your true feelings maybe due to the fact that a serious commitment scares you? Put yourself and him in a serious set up and find the courage to open up to him and encourage the same from him. Use a language that's easy and a tone that's non threatening.

Don't force anything. Let him open up on his, if he chooses to at all. Some people value their freedom more than others, and emotions may feel annoying to them.

best way to get someone to open up to you is to open up to them.

Are you sure you are 37 and he is 28? No offence but you sound like adolescent :)
Tell him that you love him!