Generally yes..!
Even though several factors do come into play. When the emotions are maintained under control, assuming, and or with the understanding that nothing else other than pure friendship between the two is all that can exist, yess, of course, both opposite sex individuals can be true close friends regardless of age differences. And when one or the other does date someone else, there should not be any jealousy going or coming from any direction. Since there's nothing else but just genuine friendship between the two good boy/girl friends. The problem arises when one or the other does want more than friendship, but one or the other does not! So that person who wants to be more than friends, is the one who starts acting up being jealous when the one he or she loves as more than a friend, starts dating someone. At that point when jealousy creeps up or out, then it's not a true, unadulterated friendship any more! So the moral point here is to always be clear as can nicely and respectfully and specifically be made, as needed, when needed, that one's desire is to only be friends, and nothing more! That is, to avoid any and all misunderstandings and heartaches that may arise for whatever misreadings👍!
