At least Lae'zel is clear and direct about it. In the case of other companions I initially went along the romance path unknowingly and unwittingly, thinking that they are just being friendly.
How do you guys go along with the romance unknowingly and unwittingly?
I got hit on by every character at this point, and they are all very clear about what they want and there is a clear way to turn them down and stay friends.
It was possible with Gale upon launch, and was later patched out. Because unlike in the EA, it only took flirting with him during the weave scene for the game to start the romance. Even if you chose someone else at the tiefling party afterwards, which is how it happened in my playthrough. My character learned from Withers that she was apparently romancing two companions at the same time. Also, at launch there was no friendly-but-not interested option during the weave dialogue to turn him down.
On a side note, I recall there were more camp scenes with Gale leading up to the weave scene (which Larian seems to have removed?). The EA romance had a more slow going feel.
