Terms of Endearment

For females the use of the terms lovely, and dear when referencing a close female friend are perfectly acceptable because we are female and allowed to do so. We as females don't think much of it when we do this to another (usually). When it comes to my guy friends, they usually stay far away from using any sort of those type of endearments. So, imagine my surprise today when a good guy friend of mine whom i have know for quite a while, and was chatting to on msn today, called me honey for the first time ever and then signed off with an x - as in the x0x0 type x. Any one have any advice? Is this a normal term used towards just a good mate....or is this person turning into more than a mate? Don't know and really don't want to analyse this at the moment, but some advice would be helpful.......PLEASE!