A close friend is no longer into me (I think)

Me and my ex-boyfriend split up a few months ago as we were both attracted to to other people. Once split up I took a chance and told my guy friend that I like him and he said he had a big crush on me too.

We took things slow, as I was going through a big time of change in needing to move out from my exes apartment etc and the stress that comes with that. We both agreed that neither of us were ready for a relationship but were happy hanging out once or twice a week and acting as a couple.

My friend called this all off about 7 weeks later. In part that he wasn’t ready for a relationship and that he isn’t quite over his ex. I didn’t bring the topic up for a month or so again as I was concentrating on being friends and I appreciated that the timing was bad.

Now we are friends, see each other in a group setting relatively often and get on well. However recently he has said his feelings are more so that he isn’t into me although it’s not “black and white” and that it’s “safer” this way so I won’t expect anything in the future. I can appreciate it not being the right time now but what are the odds that by working on myself this guy will come back around in the future?
This is someone who was into me, told me they liked me and found me sexy and acted as though in a couple, and then pulled away.