Boyfriend hasn't said "I love you"... does he love me?

[change77]

We've been together for a year and he has only said he "really likes me". He's a shy guy and typically doesn't express his emotions well, however, I know he has told at least one ex that he loved her, so I feel inadequate when all I'm hearing from him is "I like you." So last time he said that, I jokingly said "no you don't" and he said "maybe it's more than that..." then the subject of our conversation changed (ugh!). Recently he told me he cares about me more than he has ever cared about a girl and he's worried about me leaving him because he thinks I can do better. I reassured him that he is all I want and I'm not going anywhere. So now he seems to be gradually opening up about how he feels. This weekend he cuddled up with me and started telling me all of these things he's never said before, telling me his life revolves around me, he thinks about me constantly and I'm in most of his dreams... "you're the most beautiful person I know", "I don't know what I'd do if you ever left me," "I've spent most of my life in these long bouts of depression... and now that I have you I can't be unhappy, just thinking about you and knowing that you're somewhere thinking about me." He told me how important it is to him that I am comfortable and happy in every way. He even told me if I stay the way I am, he'll never have to look for a girlfriend ever again.

 

I think he might be in love with me, but I don't know if I'm reading this all wrong. Do you think he is? And if he is, why can't he say it?

[Thierro]

Words are empty, only actions count. That is my core believe.

 

He probably got hurt in the past by pouring is heart out and got a bit hesitant to do so with you. I get the feeling he is an insecure guy. I believe sentences like ‘my world revives around you’ are a very bad omen. It will probably bite him in the butt eventually.. He needs to realize he is putting himself second place by placing you on a pedestal. Try to talk about this with him.

[vsmini]

"I've spent most of my life in these long bouts of depression... and now that I have you I can't be unhappy, just thinking about you and knowing that you're somewhere thinking about me."

 

I hesitate to bring this up because I know it's not the basis of your post but this is a red-flag codependent-esque quote.

 

A year is a long time to wait for it and personally if I didn't have the words to go along with the actions (because ultimately actions are more important) I would be frustrated and probably leave. If he's younger than say mid-twenties I can see giving him a break but other than that....not OK by me.

[Miss M]

I hesitate to bring this up because I know it's not the basis of your post but this is a red-flag codependent-esque quote.

 

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Change77,

Your boyfriend sounds a lot like the guy i'm currently with. All those things he says may sound sweet to you, but to me it sounds like he's very insecure. I've been posting here asking for advice and someone also mentioned that my bofriend might be a codependant. I have never heard of the term before, but when I looked it up, i realized that he probably is. Now, I don't know exactly what it means to be in a serious relationship with a codependant, but i'm getting an idea after just a few months of being together, and even though he is a very sweet guy, I don't think it would be healthy for me to stay with this type of person.