First of all, I assume everyone on the forum is a male unless they say something to the contrary or they have a really feminine user name, so I wasn't accusing you of being homosexual. That being said, whether the situation is homosexual or heterosexual had no bearing on my advice. Whether it is sexual or nonsexual however, makes a big difference. Most people on this forum are sexually aroused by tickling, and you didn't state to the contrary in your original post. Then you talked about a project on hands and feet, which are two of the most sexually "fetishized" body parts and feet are often another fetish of tickling fetishists. You also said that when you did get the chance to tickle her it "excited" you. I mistook that for sexual excitement.
Most of the definitions I found online of fetish that didn't refer to arousal or spirit-charms were along the lines of "any object, activity, etc, to which one is excessively or irrationally devoted." I wouldn't say that someone who likes tickling in a nonsexual way has a tickling fetish any more than someone who plays video games has a gaming fetish. Tickling may be a bit more uncommon, but unless you're irrationally fixated upon it I'd just say you like tickling.
Anyways, new advice for a new perspective. Just ask her. If she's your best friend and she knows it's not sexual, then she won't be offended. I can't guarantee she'll say yes, but I doubt she'd be mad or weirded out if she understands where you're coming from. It's kind of like asking someone out for the first time, it seems impossibly difficult and the fear of rejection is high, but once you push yourself through that social barrier you realize it wasn't such a big deal after all.
