How do I tell my best friend I don't want a relationship?

[seeman]

I have been the best of friends with this guy for over 5 years. We never had any type of sexual relations at all and had significant others in the past and it never made our relationship awkward or anything because we were just genuinely good friends. Just the other night we were hanging out and talking and to make a long story short, we ended up having sex. Of course, sleeping with my best friend was bad judgement on my part and it never should have happened, but it did. So it happened and I figured we could just pretend it never happened and go on like before. I was wrong. Now he wants a relationship that I don't want to have. He told me how he has loved me all along and knows that we are perfect for each other. I don't doubt that, but I don't want to be in a relationship. I just got out of a difficult relationship a few months ago and I am enjoying being single. The past couple of days I have ignored his calls, which is something a friend shouldn't do, but I don't know what to say to him. I can't break his heart. I don't want to ruin our friendship. It looks like I already have by sleeping with him...Please help!

[antoy]

Okay, this is going to be a bit harsh and I apologize ahead of time for it.

Suck it up and just do it. You already admitted to making the mistake of having sex with him, now you have to own your actions.

You are hurting him worse by ignoring him. Honesty is the way to go here charisma. The only way to go, and I think you know that.

I know you don't want to lose this friendship, but in your statement...