Does my long distance friend have feelings for me?

I can't always tell if he's flirting or being friendly. He lives half way across the country and I met him 2 years ago, nearly.
He'll compliment me when I send him pictures of new hair or what have you. He's one of my closest friends I've ever had.
I will text him something like "this sunset it beautiful!" And he will almost always reply with "just like you :)" and he often does that when I say "cute" or "sexy". And after I say something he will "laugh" (all of this is over text messages) and ill ask what's so funny and he'll just reply with "you're just adorable :)"
Sometimes we will go many days without talking. But when we talk we can talk all day, even into the wee hours of the morning.
He has a GF but he's only staying with her for her benefit right now (she's needing major bone surgery and he feels like he's the only one who could take care of her properly) but he's also interested on and off with one of his friends up there. Idk how close they are, really.
And sometimes when I accidentally call him "baby" or "babe" because I'm too tired to think and later apologize for it he'll say "it's totally fine :)"
Yesterday I said something about always wanting to call him "babe" for a friendly term of affection and asked if that was weird or awkward for me to do so and he said "nah, I don't think so"
But basically, he flirts, he's friendly, crushing on another girl closer to him, go for days without talking. Oh, and I always contact him first generally.