If you preempt it by saying that they have the wrong idea, then they really will have the wrong idea. Maybe you ought to not bring friends into it. Or mention that your friends have noticed you finding excuses to hang out with her and that you thought you were being subtle, but apparently you’re an open book. The thing is that if your friends and her friends have both noticed, she’s probably also noticed and is waiting for you to say or do something. Otherwise she’d be making excuses not to hang out with you. (Unless she’s oblivious to other people’s affection like because of autism or something)