Age gap friendships

Basically my younger cousins has started being friends with my friends, and her friends have joined. 2 boys who are her age, 18. I live in the UK by the way so the legal drinking age, we all go out together have a few drinks and stuff. Over the last few weeks/months we’ve all gotten close, only as friends nothing else. Me, my best friend, and the 2 boys realised we all play the same game so we’ve created a squad and play some evenings. Last Saturday one of the boys made it clear they have a small little crush on me, I shut it down immediately as I’m 24 and that age gap is not gonna happen. I was nice about it, said I value our friendship but no no no. I repeated it a few times. But it’s obvious it’s just a school boy style crush. But he then started messaging me privately which I didn’t think anything of as we play the game together and it was more talking about the night out and the fact I’m on a bit of a holiday from work (it’s insanely hot in the uk right now) it’s not been flirty or anything like that, just normal friendship chit chat. But now I’m convinced myself I’m doing something morally wrong. He’s younger than me am k giving him the wrong idea even though I’ve put it clear it’s a big no and it’s only friends? So I look like a pedophile? Constantly on my brain now I’m doing something wrong when Infact it’s literally just a close circle of friends chatting. I’m from a very small town with not a lot of people so everyone knows everyone, everyone is friends with everyone, it’s chill. But because I know he has a crush on me I’ve made it this big thing in my head. I look at him as a little younger brother type situation, he’s very sweet, we have a lot in common, and we get a long! So it’s just friends. But now I feel bad, like I’m leading the poor boy on when I’ve done nothing but say no! That I look bad for having an age gap friendship, that I’m not allowed to even though half the men I know in town are friends with all ages, half the women are as well. But me? I feel judged and scared