Can guys and girls frequently hang out and just be friends?

read your story -and yes. they really can just be your friend. how do i know? because i was the "gf" in the same scenario and well still with "bf" now after 9 years. my bf and i, couldn't hang out as much bc of my parents but now times changed and we get to see each other more often and have gotten even more closer. he used to have a friend like you that he had for years and ended up letting go of that friendship i wanna say...5 years ago? yeah, so i know it can happen. - well good luck!