It is always nice to love someone. But the risk would always linger if we don't make things clear from the beginning. I understand that gradual progress of you, and how we would expect it to turn into something romantic at the end. Yet, I somehow understand her delay, she might have been struggling between the feelings for you and for her "someone", even though after times she chose over that "someone" instead.
That was an interesting writing, thank you for sharing 💞