Does my best friend have feelings for me?

Almost two years ago, I met a a guy at my grad school, John. I didn’t know him very well, figured he was nice, but i was casually seeing someone at the time. I saw him at our school’s homecoming dance, where he had been drinking. He started dancing with me, told me I was beautiful, his favorite person, and even kissed me on the cheek-not a little european kiss, a real kiss on the cheek. We barely knew each other, so I felt it was odd and when I asked him about it later, he said he just gets very affectionate when drunk. Over the next year we became really close, and great friends. we would hang out and text often, and when graduate prom came we danced together all night (we had all gone with a big group of friends, not as a date); I kissed him on his cheek and told him he was my favorite person, like he had with me before, and he kissed me on my cheek again, but nothing more. We’ve gotten even closer this year, and for months spent everyday together studying, would eat together, walk to classes, etc. he’s told me im his closest friend at school, and i feel the same way. we talk about everything-politics, religion, our families, what upsets us-everything. but once, when he said he thought about dating someone in our school, and i asked who, he refused to tell me. He always opens doors for me, will offer to pick up food for me if he’s out, if we’re walking sometimes will put his hand on my back to make sure i dont run into someone, or graze my hand with his if he refills my wine glass. BUT sometimes he’ll disappear from our usual routine for a few days when he’s busy, invite other people to hang out with us, and our conversation, which is usually so easy and can last for hours, now has awkward pauses from both of us. I wonder if he’s trying to tell me he isn’t interested. we’re still close, but not spending as much time together now because our schedules don’t sync up quite as much. I’m thinking of asking him if he has any interest in me, but dont want to lose my best friend. Any advice, or thoughts on if he may be interested would be great-I feel like im getting mixed signals. Also, he’s very traditional and from what I know, pretty shy or reserved with women.