Heartbreak...

I need to vent because I have no one to talk to, so here goes. I met my best friend in the 6th grade and we "dated" (those middle school relationships lol) and as we've gotten older (we're 17 now) we've also gotten closer. I absolutely adore him and he's been that friend that's always been there for me. Over the years we've always gravitated towards one another and always had a flirty relationship which has been fun. Recently we've both become single and started spending a lot of time together and I fell for him, hard. But there of course was another girl that he was trying to figure out his feelings for and ultimately left me for her. We sat in his car for an hour, talking and crying and he told me how much he loved me and how the only person he sees in his future, being his wife and mother of his kids is me (😳😩) but "this is something he has to do" which I am trying to understand but it's hard, and now our friendship has been different and it sucks I'm trying to tell myself that if and when it's meant to be, it will be. Anyways I'm broken hearted, angry, and confused about what he wants and I just needed to vent. Sorry.