There is an order to things. You shouldn't tell people you love them in advance of knowing their sexuality. I hesitate to think you can fall in love with someone who is unaware of your intentions and doesn't share them, but that a separate issue. ;-)

So, your next step is to tell him you're gay. A lot of people like this notion where you say you're gay, he says he's gay, and then you start making out, but even if that occurs, it is more likely to happen on separate days. Not necessarily, but more likely.

So, if you suspect he might be gay or bi, as well, the easiest way to get him to come out to you is to come out to him. There is rarely reward without risk in life. If he is already your friend, and you come out to him as gay and not "gay and WAY into you," this shouldn't go too badly.

At that point, he obviously can say "Wow, me too!" but he may not. At this point, he will tell you he's not gay, or he may just say nothing about himself at all. Either way, you're out and therefore ahead of the game. If he's truly your friend, you can tell him you're not ready for others to know yet, and he will hopefully keep that secret.

When you discuss it further at some point, you can say something like you wish you could find a gay version of him. This gets you right where you want to be. You aren't assuming he's gay by saying it, but if he's still in the closet and unsure after you came out to him, you're pretty much giving him the green light here, and a clear message: If you come out, I'm way into you.

You lose nothing and gain a lot by being out to your friend, though. If the goal is being his boyfriend, that is beyond your control. But you can do everything in your power to move things in that direction, except make him gay and/or interested.

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"You can judge the whole world on the sparkle that you think it lacks" - Dawes, When My Time Comes (http://youtu.be/Z0FrcTX6hWI)