Are we really just friends?

Hope I put this in the right place but I have known a guy that I talk to long distance (Phone/Internet) for about 5 yrs and over the past few yrs I have pretty much fallen for him. I have told him how I feel and he always replies with “we are just friends”. The thing is he keeps giving me signs that he likes me as more than a friend. He calls me very often, flirts every time we talk. We have also been trying to meet up for the last two yrs but it never seems to happen due to money issues :( . Ok so now I’m wondering is it possible that hes just saying the friends thing due to us living so far apart from each other?