Well for example, I had one female friend. IMHO we were more then just friends but was a platonic relationship, I loved her, but not the way for sexual purposes, yet not a way one would love a brother or sister either, or a best friend.

The problem with the english language is we only have one word for love when in fact there are many flavors or variations of love.

The way you love your favorite color is different then the way you love your mother which is different then the way you love your friend which is also iMHO different then the way you love your platonic friend. I consider it romantic only for shortness of words/ways to express it's uniqueness. It has to be different or otherwise it would be the same as one of the other expressions of love. It's romantic in that it's special. You don't need to have sex to have a romance which is simply another flavor of love.